The Feminisation of Poverty and Labour: Exploring Women’s Economic Vulnerability in South Africa’s Labour Sector: A Comparison to the United Kingdom

Despite legislative strides toward gender equality, South African women continue to experience disproportionate poverty, driven by deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities, labour market segmentation, and limited enforcement of labour protections. Through a comparative analysis with the United Kingdom, this study highlights critical lessons South Africa can draw from the UK’s integrated legal frameworks, robust enforcement mechanisms, and innovative transparency measures, such as mandatory gender pay gap reporting. The UK’s approach, which combines minimum wage policies with gender equity strategies offers a valuable model for addressing wage disparities and enhancing women’s economic security. The dissertation argues that adopting similar institutional reforms—strengthening enforcement agencies, mandating pay transparency, and implementing gender-sensitive labour policies—could substantially improve labour market outcomes for South African women. In doing so, this research contributes to broader discussions on poverty alleviation, labour rights, and gender justice, and calls for a holistic policy framework in dismantle systemic barriers and foster inclusive economic participation. Keywords: Wage inequalities; National minimum wage; Women; Legislation; Economic Empowerment.