Treasure 2.153 of the Richest People in the World in 2019 Equivalent to 4.6 Billion Poor Citizens

Illustration. POKROL - The wealth of 2,153 richest people in the world in 2019 is equivalent to what 4.6 billion poor people have, ac...

Illustration.

POKROL - The wealth of 2,153 richest people in the world in 2019 is equivalent to what 4.6 billion poor people have, according to a recent report by the aid agency Oxfam, released on Monday (1/20/2020).

In a report entitled "It's Time to Care", Oxfam said economic inequality was getting out of hand.

The twenty-two richest men in the world have more assets than the wealth of all women in Africa.

This extreme wealth, said Oxfam, was obtained when the world was also facing the problem of poverty.

A new World Bank estimate shows that almost half the world's population lives on US $ 5.5, or Rp. 75,000, per day.

It also said, the existing economic system favored a handful of wealthy entrepreneurs, mostly men, compared to billions of hours of work done by women around the world, who worked in important sectors, which were often unpaid or paid very cheaply .

These women work caring for others, cooking, cleaning the house, fetching water, finding firewood, and daily work that benefits the community and ensures the economy functions well.


The work of "invisible" women

Oxfam said this condition must be changed.

Governments around the world must act right now to build a human economy that respects women and things that truly benefit society, rather than encouraging systems that prioritize the search for profits and wealth.

The government and various parties are also urged to invest in a national system that pays attention to the work done by women in caring for others and implementing progressive taxes, including implementing a wealth tax and passing laws in favor of those who work to care for others.

Amitabh Behar, director of Oxfam India in an interview with Reuters news agency, said it was important to underline that the unpaid work done by women was a hidden economic machine.

Behar exemplifies the work carried out by a woman in India named Buchu Devi, who on average spends 16 to 17 hours per day walking three kilometers to fetch water, cook, and do work with very minimal wages.

"Here, on the other hand, we see millionaires gathered in Davos, who have private planes and very luxurious lifestyles," said Behar.

According to Oxfam, the work of women around the world who are not paid is worth at least 10.8 trillion US dollars, around Rp 147,270 trillion, per year or three times greater than the economic value of the technology industry.