The Principles on Women Builders Creating Inclusive Future seeks to address gender pay gap and segregation within recruitment and promotion processes in non-traditional industries such as the building sector, while creating sustained benefits for all APEC economies promoting women’s participation in higher-wage and high growth sectors.

Findings from literature review, pilot survey, and focus group discussions conducted under the APEC Women Builders Creating Inclusive Future project show that gender stereotypes (in which women are the main child caregivers), lack of transparency in pay, physical strength levels, adaptation to harsh outdoor working conditions, and gender-based violence are major causes for the gender pay gap in the building sector.

This publication presents the four principles formulated for women builders: encouraging women’s participation, establishing gender friendly workplaces, creating healthy and safe workplaces, and ensuring fair career development opportunities. These principles are developed for policymakers to use as guidelines to promote an inclusive future.