Public Employment and Women

In 2002, Argentina implemented a large-scale public employment program to deal
with the latest economic crisis and the ensuing massive unemployment and poverty.
The program, known as Plan Jefes, offered part-time work for unemployed
heads of households, and yet more than 70 percent of the people who turned up
for work were women. The present paper evaluates the operation of this program,
its macroeconomic effects, and its impact on program participants. We report
findings from our 2005 meetings with policymakers and visits to different project
sites. We find that Jefes addresses many important community problems, is well
received by participants, and serves the needs of women particularly well. Some
of the benefits women report are working in mother-friendly jobs, getting needed
training and education, helping the community, and finding dignity and empowerment
through work.