Legal Dimensions of Labour Rights and Gender Equality: A Comparative Analysis of Women’s Rights in the Global Workforce

The protection of women’s rights in the workplace is central to modern labour law and
gender justice. Although a broad framework of international treaties and national laws
exists to ensure fair treatment, equal pay, and safe working conditions, women across
the globe continue to face entrenched forms of discrimination. These include wage
gaps, occupational segregation, lack of maternity support, and exposure to workplace
harassment. This paper critically examines the legal architecture that governs women’s
labour rights at the international level—primarily through the conventions of the
International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations’ Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Furthermore,
it compares how selected countries such as India, the United States, and member states
of the European Union have responded through their domestic legal systems. The study
also highlights enforcement gaps, socio-cultural resistance, and institutional barriers
that impede the realization of equality. The research concludes that while laws provide
a necessary foundation, meaningful gender equality requires robust implementation,
continuous legal reform, and a cultural shift in workplace norms.