\n\n<\/span>Need for a Policy on Female Labour Force Participation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nThe Union Government is formulating a policy to boost female labor force participation by promoting the care economy and addressing gender disparities in unpaid work. The initiative seeks to empower women by reducing their caregiving burden and creating opportunities for employment.<\/span><\/p>\nA key challenge lies in the fact that women in India spend an average of 5.6 hours daily on care giving duties, significantly restricting their ability to pursue work, education, or leisure activities. The policy aims to tackle these barriers and foster greater gender equality in the workforce.<\/span><\/p>\nCare economy<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe care economy encompasses economic activities focused on providing care, both paid and unpaid, to meet the needs of current and future populations.<\/span><\/p>\nKey aspects include:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Direct Care<\/strong>: Activities like feeding a baby.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Indirect Care:<\/strong> Tasks such as cooking, cleaning, healthcare, education, and other personal and domestic services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To address care giving challenges, the government is exploring initiatives such as:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- A core skilling package for caregivers of children.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Provision of childcare facilities for women in the informal sector, including workers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).<\/span><\/li>\n
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development is already implementing the Palna Scheme (National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Cr\u00e8che), offering daycare services for children of working parents. As of now, 1,000 Anganwadi cr\u00e8ches are operational under this program.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Female Labour Force Participation (FLFPR) Rate<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) measures the proportion of women aged 15 years and above who are either employed or actively seeking employment.<\/span><\/p>\nKey Trends in FLFPR:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nNational Trends:<\/strong> According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23, the FLFPR for women aged 15 years and above increased significantly from 23% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23.<\/span><\/p>\nRural Areas:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n- In 2021-22, 36.6% of rural women aged 15 years and above participated in the labour force, compared to 78.2% of rural men.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The rise in rural FLFPR is largely attributed to increased involvement of women in agriculture and allied activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Urban Areas:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n- In 2021-22, 23.8% of urban women aged 15 years and above participated in the labour force, as against 74.7% of urban men.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Regional Disparities: Only four states have FLFPR rates below 25%\u2014Assam, Bihar, Haryana, and Delhi\u2014with Delhi recording the lowest rate at 14.8%.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Insights from the World Bank:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nImpact of Marriage:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Women in India experience a sharp decline in labour force participation post-marriage.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Female employment rates drop by 12 percentage points after marriage (nearly one-third of the pre-marital employment rate), even in the absence of children.<\/span><\/li>\n
- These trends underscore the challenges and opportunities in enhancing women\u2019s participation in India\u2019s workforce.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Necessitating Factors for a National Policy on Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) in India<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Burden of Unpaid Care Work<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Women disproportionately shoulder the responsibility of unpaid care work, including childcare, elder care, and household chores.<\/span><\/li>\n
- This work is often undervalued and unrecognized as formal labour, limiting women’s ability to engage in paid employment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Societal Norms and Cultural Expectations<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Traditional gender roles in India assign household and caregiving duties to women, while men are seen as primary earners.<\/span><\/li>\n
- These societal norms often restrict women\u2019s opportunities to join or remain in the workforce.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Limited Access to Education<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Many girls face barriers to education due to poverty or familial responsibilities, leading to early school dropouts.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A lack of education curtails skill development, employment prospects, and earning potential.<\/span><\/li>\n
- While more women are now pursuing higher education, this can delay workforce entry, and cultural pressures may still lead them to exit the workforce after completing their studies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Health-Related Challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Health issues, particularly for older women, can reduce productivity and contribute to the low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Limited Job Opportunities<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Women face discrimination in the job market, with fewer opportunities available to them, particularly in sectors like technology and finance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Safety Concerns<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Concerns about personal safety, harassment at the workplace, and risks during commutes discourage women from seeking employment outside the home.<\/span><\/p>\n\n |
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