Across many sectors, jobs predominantly performed by women continue to receive lower pay, recognition, and status than equivalent roles held by men, even when the work requires the same skills, effort, and responsibility. This persistent undervaluation is a major contributor to the gender pay gap, limiting women’s career opportunities and slowing progress toward workplace equality.
Physiotherapist Mizgin Alpkan, supported by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Work-Based Learning Programme, has demonstrated her expertise in a profession where women’s work is often underestimated. Her experience highlights the importance of recognizing and rewarding women’s skills and contributions on an equal footing with those of men.
By addressing the undervaluation of women’s work, initiatives like this help create fairer, more inclusive workplaces. The Work-Based Learning Programme, locally known as İŞMEP, is part of the project “Promoting Decent Work for Syrians under Temporary Protection and Turkish Citizens.” It is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW Development Bank and implemented by the ILO Office for Türkiye in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, combining skills development with awareness of workplace rights to support gender equality.
