Empowering Female Labour within Islamic Framework
Fatimah Zahra Nasution and Biki Zulfikri Rahmat
Siliwangi University, Jalan Siliwangi No.24 Kota Tasikmalaya, Indonesia
Keywords: Female labour, empowerment, islamic framework.
Abstract: Female labour contributes to household welfare and economic development. In view of the inequity in labour
markets, female labour empowerment enhances the participation and competitiveness of women in both
general and niche labour markets. There are numerous effective approaches in empowering female labour that
include technological, vocational, educational, entrepreneurial, psychological and religious approaches. The
religious approach suggests a comprehensive training ranks among effective ways to improve employee
productivity. It equips labour with knowledge, skills and satisfaction. This study proposes a concept of female
labour empowerment within Islamic approach based on several studies. This literature review study used
qualitative method by reviewing and elaborating literature resources of related topics. Findings show that
Islam gives dignity, respect, protection, and an appropriate place to women. Islamic values embedded in a
comprehensive process of empowering female labour by providing inner and outer skill trainings are expected
to increase business performance eventually. The study enriches knowledge and broadens the horizons of the
role of religious factors in economics development. Findings also lend further support to a holistic approach
in crafting human resource development and support systems in firms.
1 INTRODUCTION
Female labour plays a significant contribution in the
process of economic growth and development
(Ederveen, Nahuis and Parikh, 2007). Female’s
empowerment and economic development are
mutually related (Duflo, 2012). Over the past few
decades, many developing countries have been
experiencing an increase in the labour force
participation of women. Gender equality provides
access for women to work and have significant
economic role in various ways. Attention to gender
equality is essential to sound development practice
and at the heart of economic and social progress
(CIDA, 1999). This implies an important economic
dimension is that an increase in the female
contribution to formal production leads to higher
economic growth (Euwals, Knoef and van Vuuren,
2011). In this respect, effective labour market policies
are needed particularly in developing countries to
promote female’s labour market. participation in the
interest of comprehensive economic growth (Lucis,
2009).
The contribution of female labour does matter for
development, therefore understanding its causes and
motivations becomes important (Minniti, 2010). In
this respect, it is essential to empower female labour
as an economic asset in achieving economic security
among all peoples. Women empowerment is defined
as some efforts of educating and supporting women
in such a way that enable them to manage and make
decision for their life, improving their skill and
gaining self-confidence. It is essential to combine
character development, intellectuality, and physical
health to achieve better quality of human resources in
the challenge of global world.
Some effective approaches in empowering female
labour include technological, vocational, educational,
entrepreneurial, micro finance, psychological and
religious approaches. Several
Studies pointed to the importance of social and
cultural structures in determining an individual’s
level of empowerment or social value (Cheston and
Kuhn, 2002). Education and employment are termed
enabling factors since they can be instrumental in
enabling women to gain the knowledge, confidence,
skills, and opportunities that they need to increase
their social and economic status and power in the
household and in society.
A great number of studies relating to the
discussion of empowering female labour have been
emerged prevalently. The existing literatures promote
the importance of female empowerment from various
Nasution, F. and Rahmat, B.
Empowering Female Labour within Islamic Framework.
In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Islamic Economics, Business, and Philanthropy (ICIEBP 2017) - Transforming Islamic Economy and Societies, pages 49-53
ISBN: 978-989-758-315-5
Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved
49

perspectives such as psychological aspect,
educational, entrepreneurial and micro finance.
However, there is not much work by researchers on
female empowerment from Islamic perspective. This
current work aims to contribute in this field of study
by proposing a new insight on how the concept of
empowering female labour within Islamic
framework. Islamic values embedded in a
comprehensive process of empowering female
2 METHOD AND DATA
This literature review study used qualitative method
by identifying, reviewing and elaborating literature
resources of related topics. Primary data was
collected by gathering recent journal articles
regarding female labour empowerment. The data
collected was then overviewed, resumed and analysed
to get an idea of general purpose and the content of
the articles. The study elaborated the ideas and
findings of some previous findings to construct a
concept of female labour empowerment within
Islamic values.
3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In simple terms, the concept of empowerment would
appear to be the process of enabling or imparting
power transfer from one individual or group to
another. It includes the elements of power, authority,
choice and permission. Empowerment may also be
viewed as the result or product of the process of
empowering concepts (Rodwell, 1996).
Empowerment is therefore seen as a process of
transferring power and includes the development of a
positive self-esteem and recognition of the worth of
self and others. Empowerment is a helping process
whereby groups or individuals are enabled to change
a situation given skills, resources, opportunities and
authority to do so.
A study by (Rahman, 2013) stated that
empowerment is not merely a question of
rearrangement of power both economic and political;
it is also a matter of change of values. Thus,
empowerment is a process of awareness and capacity
building leading to greater participation, to greater
decision-making power and control, and to
transformative action. In addition, empowerment is a
process that involves both individual and collective.
The term empowerment implying that it is about
changing the perspective of physical, human,
intellectual, financial, self-esteem, confidence,
creativity and ideology such as beliefs, values,
attitudes, and ways of thinking and perceiving
situations in a given society.
Human beings are different from other objective
beings with respect to freedom of choice that their
actions and behaviours are a result of their reasoning
and will, albeit relatively. As social entities, human
beings naturally interact with others. Islam values all
human being on the basis of two different dimensions
of his existence: the biological and the social.
Morality becomes the great goal of Islamic teachings
and the main factor in forming a religion.
Religion in general and Islam in particular can
play positive role in reviving common values for
mankind and uniting people for justice and equality,
particularly the weaker sections. In Islam, a human
being is very honourable and valued higher than
many other creatures. He is created by the best
Creator in the best form. He is created by God and
chosen by Him to be His representative on earth. This
relation with God has different dimensions which
affect them as persons and all of their relationships.
For such purpose, it is important to empower human
beings through not only physical aspect but also
spiritual one.
In the context of development, empowering
female labour within Islamic framework means
providing female labour with opportunities and
resources needed of both inner and outer skill as an
effort to increase their working ability. As part of
human development, however, personal
empowerment is guided not only by knowledge but
also by the search for wisdom (Feste and Anderson,
1995).
Empowering female labour within Islamic
perspective makes it possible for them to take on new
roles as they have become better educated and more
independent (Arnez, 2010). There is no gender
disparity in islamic ideology. In the Quran, it is stated
that, “And whoever does righteous good deeds
whether male or female and he (or she) is a true
believer in the Oneness of Allah, such will enter
Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of
a Naqira (speck on the back of a date-stone), will be
done to them.” (Qur’an, 4:124).
Islam is a code of life for all human beings, valid
for every time and place. Islam gives dignity, respect,
protection, and an appropriate place to women
(Offenhauer, 2005). Women and men are born with
the same humanistic qualities and are partners in
humanity (Saleh, 2001). In regards to society, the
Quran states that Muslim men and women share life’s
moral and social responsibilities equally and jointly.
ICIEBP 2017 - 1st International Conference on Islamic Economics, Business and Philanthropy
50

In addition, they are equal in front of the law and in
all religious obligations and punishments (Qur’an,
24:2). Islam does not only promote human rights but
also encourage individuals to stand for their own
rights. Under the laws of Islam, women have obtained
maximum human rights like the right to sell and
purchase properties, own business, take legal actions,
vote, and participate in social, military and political
affairs (Sharif Chaudhry Professor, Nosheen and
Professor, 2012).
In Islam, education and the pursuit of knowledge
and wisdom become a duty for every human being.
Gender or race, culture or tradition could not become
the cause for prohibiting a person from educating
one’s self. Empowering processes might include
opportunities to develop and practice skills, to learn
about resource development and management, to
work with others on a common goal, to expand one's
social support network and to develop leadership
skills (Zimmerman, 1995). Islam acknowledges
human basic values comprising of life (al-nafs),
reason (al-'aql), descent (nasab), property (al-mal)
and religion (al-din). Islam protects these primary
human values, and prohibits any violation of them.
Education principles in Islam does not merely cover
cognitive aspect but also affective and psychomotor
which is the combination of cognitive functions and
physical movement.
Education in Islamic perspective emphasizing on
two elements, physical strength (al-ahdaful
jasmaniyah) that aimed to build a healthy and strong
Muslim and having working skill, and spiritual
strength (al-ahdaful ruhiyah), aimed to build a faithful
and devoted Muslim practicing moral values in life.
Education and employment are enabling factors
since they can be instrumental in enabling women to
gain the knowledge, confidence, skills, and
opportunities that they need to increase their social
and economic status and power in the household and
in society (Gill, Pande and Malhotra, 2007). Women's
education level appears to be important determinant
of women's labour market activities (Mammen and
Paxon, 2000). A study done by Njoh and Akiwumi
revealed that religion explains a statistically
significant portion (22%) of the variability in women
empowerment as a Millennium Development Goal
(Njoh and Akiwumi, 2012).
Lee and Koh have defined empowerment as the
psychological state of a subordinate perceiving four
dimensions of meaningfulness, competence, self-
determination and impact, which is affected by
empowering behaviours of the supervisor (Lee and
Koh, 2001). The definition therefore integrates both
relational and motivational aspects. The model they
suggested that the levels of job characteristics may
affect three psychological states, experienced
meaningfulness, experienced responsibility and
knowledge of the results. These psychological states,
in turn, can lead to a number of positive personal
outcomes. In addition, three major individual
differences (i.e. knowledge and skill, growth-need
strength and satisfaction with contextual factors) can
influence the relationship between job characteristics
and psychological states.
A study by (Zafar, 2016) revealed that providing
some life skill trainings to women like skills in
embroidery enabled them to make new embroidery
designs with new colour combinations, which
resulted in increased sales. Similarly, women
receiving training in livestock or poultry became
more aware with regard to the rearing of livestock.
Empowering female labour through both outer
and inner skill training will result human resources
which enriched with positive energy either rationally
or emotionally as well. This outcome will give
positive effect in creating conducive business
environment and accelerating the performance of the
business.
A comprehensive model of female empowerment
will result in magnifying awareness and knowledge,
gaining a positive self-identity, confidence and
responsibility, having ability to make decisions and
having choices, increasing leadership, and
furthermore reducing poverty. Increased awareness
and knowledge of the employee are a critical outcome
of the empowerment cycle, which eventually
influence the performance of a business (Al-Dajani
and Marlow, 2013).
(Ahmad, 2011) revealed that Islamic principles
completely cover all aspects of life including working
in an organization. Different studies result show that
Islamic work ethics can help build a better morale
amongst employees which in turn can result in greater
employee job satisfaction. Adopting Islamic work
ethics improves organizational commitment, level of
motivation and thus is likely to reduce the number of
staff wanting to leave the organization i.e. quitting the
job results indicate there is a positive impact of
Islamic Work Ethics on employee job satisfaction,
motivation and organizational commitment.
Gender discrimination could be eliminated
through education and changing behavior of the
people in the societies. Education is the essential tool
for women to fabricate fundamental abilities as well
as to assume a significant part in realizing
evenhanded social and financial advancement. A
study by (Asrar, 2017) stated that Islamic idea of
Empowering Female Labour within Islamic Framework
51

women empowerment if actualized, will acquire
profitable increases the general public.
The study reveals that there is an evidence of
ethics formulation depending on Islamic literature
which constructs Islamic values for work. His study
aims to highlight work ethics that are based on an
Islamic perspective that could educate employers and
employees on the importance of infusing positive
virtues as part of work culture.Work ethics in an
organization, according to an Islamic perspective, are
capable of directly influencing job satisfaction and
work performance level of an organization
This paper suggested 18 dimension of Islamic
work ethics: cooperation, discipline & punctual,
dignity, justice, safety, rights, responsibility,
humanity, consultation, work is a virtue, honesty,
truthfulness, halal earning, ihsan, efficient,
fulfilment, self-control, obedience. (Aldulaimi, 2016)
By analysing some ideas and findings of previous
researches, this study argues that empowering female
labour within Islamic framework means transferring
positive attitudes and knowledge to the labour by
providing them a comprehensive training comprises
of two aspects inner and outer skill, physical and
spiritual inputs. To reach full potential and become
empowered, general education and working skills are
important. This study proposes some training
programs that are possibly implemented:
Table 1: study proposes some training programs that are
possibly implemented.
No.
Inner Skill
1
Discussions on religious (Islamic) issues for
daily living
2
Religious (Islamic) discussions for workplace
application
3
Religious training on the Quran and Dhuha
prayers in workplace environments
4
Promotion of shadaqah (charity) within
communities
No.
Inner Skill
1
Provision of technical and soft skills to
female employees
2
Training to broaden career paths of women in
line with economic transition
3
Training in parenting skills
4
Training in personal financial management
5
Training on family financial management
6
Training in entrepreneurial skills
4 CONCLUSIONS
Female empowerment has been topical over the past
few decades. Female labour empowerment is aimed
at enhancing livelihood opportunities and social
conditions for female labour through activities that
equip them with knowledge and skills that are
intended to make them competitive in the labour
market and improve their productivity. The religious
approach to empowering female labour continues to
be employed across regions and religious groups with
varying intensity and success. Endeavours to
empower Islamic framework are holistic and
meaningful attempts to develop the capacity of
female labour through enhancing their grasp of
Islamic doctrines and self-worth. In its totality,
female labour empowerment in the Islamic context
aims at providing training for both inner and outer
skills.
Although gender studies witnessed significant
interest in scientific enquiries across regions, studies
into female labour empowerment through religious
means remain sparse including those focusing on
Islamic regions and practices. Notwithstanding
limited literature on female labour empowerment,
reviewed studies showed that women are benefiting
from Islamic based empowerment initiatives at the
individual, household and society levels. Women
have been empowered to run their own businesses,
they have improved their self-esteem, managed to
progress in their careers, have improved work-life
balance and also managed to collaborate efforts to
tackle challenges in their society.
Findings from this review have a couple of
implications. Development efforts focussing on
gender differentials should also incorporate religious
values as part of their female labour empowerment
initiatives. Inner and outer skills can also be improved
through the religious approach, thus studies into
gender perspectives on development ought to probe
the role of religious values, training or their lack in
gender differentials in career success. Future research
is needed to further develop the female labour
empowerment model within Islamic framework in
affecting business performance. Our discussion
provides a useful base for further investigation of
female labour empowerment in Islamic contexts.
Further work is needed to establish a scale to measure
and test the suggested concept of female labour
empowerment within Islamic framework.
ICIEBP 2017 - 1st International Conference on Islamic Economics, Business and Philanthropy
52

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