Lok Sabha Question No. 4213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Men and Women Workers in Odisha
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4213

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  MARCH, 2021

## MEN AND WOMEN WORKERS IN ODISHA

4213. SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

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

- (a) the total number of men and women working in organised sector in Odisha;
- (b) whether there  has  been  a  decrease  since  2005,  if  so,  the  percentage  decline over the years and the reasons therefor;
- (d) the  percentage  of  men  and  women  employees  who  have  been  working  in organised sector in Odisha for each year in the last 10 years;
- (e) whether the percentage of women employees in organised sector is   less than 20 per cent, if so, the reasons therefor and the corrective actions taken thereon;
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that women get represented more in  organised  sector  along  with  the  results  of  the  same  as  observed  by  the Government; and
- (g) the reasons observed by the Government for lack of representation of   women in organised sector jobs in Odisha?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) The quinquennial labour force surveys on employment and unemployment were  conducted  by  National  Statistical  Office  (NSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme  Implementation.  The  last  such  survey  was  conducted  during  2011-12. Now, NSO has switched to the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which was  conducted  during  2017-18  and  2018-19.    As  per  the  results  of  surveys,  the estimated workers population ratio(WPR) which includes both organised and unorganised sector, on usual status (principal status+subsidiary status) basis for all ages in rural and urban areas to the extent available is given below:

| Year    |           | Rural   | Rural   | Urban   | Urban   |
|---------|-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
|         |           | Male    | Female  | Male    | Female  |
| 2004-05 | Odisha    | 58.6    | 32.2    | 50.4    | 14.8    |
|         | All India | 54.6    | 32.7    | 54.9    | 16.6    |
| 2009-10 | Odisha    | 57.8    | 24.3    | 56.8    | 11.9    |
|         | All India | 54.7    | 26.1    | 54.3    | 13.8    |
| 2011-12 | Odisha    | 59.2    | 24.6    | 57.9    | 15.5    |
|         | All India | 54.3    | 24.8    | 54.6    | 14.7    |
| 2017-18 | Odisha    | 53.8    | 14.4    | 53.4    | 11.7    |
| (PLFS)  | All India | 51.7    | 17.5    | 53.0    | 14.2    |
| 2018-19 | Odisha    | 53.6    | 18.4    | 53.5    | 12.6    |
| (PLFS)  | All India | 52.1    | 19.0    | 52.7    | 14.5    |

(Note: For comparability, the results of the PLFS with earlier surveys need to be understood in the context with which the survey methodology and sample selection has been designed)

(f) & (g) 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  the  labour  codes  for  creating congenial work environment for women workers. These include enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, provision for mandatory crèche facility in  the  establishments  having  50  or  more  employees,  permitting  women  workers  in the  night  shifts  with  adequate  safety  measures,  etc.  Government  has  taken  a decision  to  allow  the  employment  of  women  in  the  aboveground  mines  including opencast workings between 7 pm and 6 am and in below ground working between 6 am  and  7  pm  in  technical,  supervisory  and  managerial  work  where  continuous presence may not be required.

The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 now subsumed in the Code on Wages, 2019 provides that there shall be no discrimination in an establishment or any unit thereof among employees on the ground of gender in matters relating to wages by the same employer,  in  respect  of  the  same  work  or  work  of  similar  nature  done  by  any employee.  Further,  no  employer  shall  make  any  discrimination  on  the  ground  of gender while recruiting any employee for the same work or work of similar nature in the conditions of employment, except where the employment of women in such work is prohibited or restricted by or under any law for the time being in force.

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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