Gender-sensitive labor standards

International standards are an important protector of workers' health. However, the standard-setting process has not always included women and women's jobs. Data on women's biology must be gathered and constraints involved in jobs traditionally done by women should be included. In addition, labour standards should be expanded to prevent jobs from interfering unduly with family life, as when chedules vary erratically and unpredictably. Some standard-setting needs to move away from strict mathematical formulae so as to allow flexibility in dealing with ill-defined risks and worker-worksite interactions.