which favors men and may be associated with discriminatory biases. Reducing the unexplained component could result in higher hourly labor income for women. The Ñopo (2008) results align with the previous findings but with lower values in the components. When considering monthly labor income, the gap increases significantly for women, averaging 30% between 2019 and 2021. This can be attributed to the importance of hours worked, where women tend to have a higher proportion of part-time jobs. This suggests that the number of hours worked (extensive margin) is a critical determinant of the labor income gap, rather than the hourly income (intensive margin).

The review of current government programs aimed at closing the gender gaps highlights a strong focus on promoting economic opportunities for women, particularly in the context of the pandemic. Strategies such as payroll subsidies, hiring incentives, and entrepreneurship funds have been implemented. However, there is a gap in addressing barriers to access to care and redistributing care work within households, which disproportionately affects women with lower levels of education. Existing programs primarily focus on childcare without complementarities to promote the labor market integration of caregivers.

Based on the analysis, several key recommendations for improving public policies in this area emerge:

1. Implement a National Care System that integrates benefits and social protection programs to enhance the quality of life for individuals with high dependency levels and their caregivers. This system should also promote women's participation in education and the labor market.

2. Address the correlation between having children and labor gaps by promoting policies that ensure access to care, family planning, advice, and mentoring. Addressing these issues can help break the cycle of poverty and mitigate the impact of gender norms.

3. Advance the mandate of the Intersectoral Commission for Public Care Policy to facilitate coordination and implementation of care policies at the national level. This coordination can lead to more efficient resource utilization and better outcomes.

4. Recognize the importance of local leadership in narrowing gender gaps. Local and regional knowledge and engagement are crucial for effectively challenging culturally entrenched discriminatory norms and driving change<sup>11</sup> from within communities. Consequently, local leaders can have a significant role in promoting change.

5. Enhance public information systems with gender breakdowns to enable better diagnosis and design of public policies.

The findings also emphasize the vital role of education in improving working conditions for women. Higher levels of education are associated with reduced income gaps, increased labor

> 11 Lachapelle (2020) provides empirical evidence, based on self-reported data, which demonstrates the significance of training programs for leaders in enhancing their engagement with their community and objectives. Furthermore, Nwaze and Mohammed (2013) present both quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the crucial role of traditional and religious leaders in promoting initiatives towards the eradication of polio in Nigeria.