EQUAL Opportunity Commission (EOC) director (legal services) Haran Ramkaransingh says there needs to be a proper definition of gender when it comes to dealing with equality in the workplace.

He spoke during a virtual meeting held by the Parliament's Human Rights, Equality and Diversity Committee on January 9.

Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde asked whether there was a differentiation when it came to sex and gender in relation to matters in the workplace.

He said some of the available literature on the subject is not clear about this.

Forde added there should be clarity in this matter when it comes to addressing matters faced by men and women on the job.

Ramkaransingh agreed with Forde.

He said sex is based purely on the biological difference between men and women.

The EOC, Ramkaransingh continued, has received sexual discrimination complaints from people who claim to have been mistreated because they are men or women.

He said sometimes when the commission receives sexual discrimination complaints, the complainants raise other concerns which may be based on gender as opposed to sex, as defined in the biological senses.

Ramkaransingh added the definition of gender can be expanded to include "sexual tendencies and preferences."

He used the example of shirts being identified as masculine attire and blouses as feminine.

Ramkaransingh said there is no conclusive evidence that either is the case.

He added the definition of gender differs from one society to another and there could be backlashes if such matters are not handled properly.

Ramkaransingh said the conventional definition of sex "does not include sexual orientation or sexual preference."

Shelly-Ann Hart, Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) (Gender and Child Affairs Division), Gender Affairs director said in some African countries, women took part in activities such as hunting for food for their families.

In contrast, she said, that role was handled by men in countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Hart said the division understands the importance of properly defining gender and is seeking a consultation with relevant stakeholders on it.

She added this will help to properly address matters related to gender or sex in the workplace.

Committee chairman Dr Mohammed Yunus Ibrahim asked Ramkaransingh about sexual discrimination complaints made by men against women in the workplace.

Ramkaransingh acknowledged the commission has received such complaints from time to time. He said the EOC had done public education sessions in the past with different entities about sexual discrimination in the workplace.

Ramkaransingh added there have been some challenges with holding these types of sessions in recent times because of staffing shortages.

Ibrahim said information provided by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) showed that in 2016, men had a wage gap of 27 per cent over women in state enterprises.

He added from 2020-2022, that situation was reversed, with women having a three per cent wage gap over men.

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