CPEC – Game Changer or Game Over for Women’s Empowerment?

CPEC represents a significant monetary investment for Pakistan, but does the corridor promise women empowerment through wellpaid jobs? The special economic zones (SEZs) under CPEC remain remarkably similar to the existing SEZs and export promotion zones which while employing women do so at very low wage rates and virtually no worker benefits. With this precedent, we argue that CPEC will fail to improve women’s working conditions unless regular, formal and well-remunerated forms of employment are created.