Gender Pay Gaps in the Banana Export Sector in Colombia

Anker Research Institute Working Paper Series | Number 6

Luisa Fernanda Bernat Díaz, Sally Smith and Thiago de Oliveira Meireles

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the findings of a study on gender pay gaps at the workplace level in the banana export sector in Colombia. The study used mixed methods and analysed 18 months of payroll data for two banana companies located in different regions. Depending on the company, the types of pay considered, and the type and occupations of workers, the gender pay gap ranges between 8% and 20%. Importantly, we found that the company with higher wages did not necessarily have a smaller gender pay gap. The gap is mostly due to segregation of women into packing activities, as this prevents them from reaching the wage levels earned by men who work in the whole spectrum of activities on banana farms. Underlying this are a range of factors related not only to the context of each company but also to broader societal issues. Based on the findings, we identify a range of actions that can be taken by stakeholders to close the gap.