Addis Ababa — Civil Service State Minister Dr.Misrak Mekonnen said government is striving to increase the number and benefits of civil servant women in the country.

A consultative meeting held here on Friday to discuss the benefits that the civil service bill brings to women and the new draft manual prepared to incorporate gender issues in all government institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the 2002 statistics report of the Ministry states that women constitute 40 percent of the civil servants in the country.

Though the number of civil servant women is on the rise, they are among the low paid employees, she said.

The Ministry is working closely with other government institutes to improve the institution.

Representatives from various departments of the ministry and all federal government institutes took part in the day-long consultative meeting.