Lok Sabha Question No. 2214 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Gender based Income Disparity
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2214

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 nd  DECEMBER, 2019

## GENDER BASED INCOME DISPARITY

2214. SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the share of women in the workforce of the private sector in the year 201819 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  increase  or  decrease  in  the  total  number  when  compared  to  the previous financial year;
- (c) whether there is income disparity between men and women in the private sector; and
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (d): As per the results of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted during  2017-18  by  National  Statistical  Office  (NSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme  Implementation  and  Annual  Employment-Unemployment  Survey conducted by Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour& Employment, the estimated female labour force participation rate on usual status (ps+ss) for 15 years and above to the extent available is given below:

| Female Labour Force Participation Rate   | Female Labour Force Participation Rate   |
|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Survey*                                  | All India                                |
| 2017-18 (PLFS)                           | 23.3%                                    |
| 2015-16 (Labour Bureau)                  | 27.4%                                    |

(Note:*  Survey  methodology  and  sample  selection  are  different  in  PLFS  and Labour Bureau surveys)

The  results  of  the  above  surveys  are  not  comparable  due  to  the  different methodology followed. However, these results depict a declining female labour force participation rate over the years. This decline may be attributed to factors like higher level of participation of women in education, migration, etc. Government has taken several initiatives  to  improve  women's  participation  in the  labour  force.  In  order  to  encourage  employment  of  women,  a  number  of protective provisions have been incorporated in various labour laws for creating congenial  work  environment  for  women  workers.  These  includes  child  care centers, time-off for feeding children, enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12  weeks  to  26  weeks,  provisions  for  mandatory  crèche  facility  in the establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 provides for payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination. Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the wages fixed by the appropriate Government are equally applicable to both male and female workers without any gender discrimination. Further, in order to enhance the employability of female workers, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes.

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