Lok Sabha Question No. 2173 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-02
Subject: Jobs in High Value-added Service Sectors
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Navneet Ravi Rana

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2173

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 ND  AUGUST, 2021

## JOBS IN HIGH VALUE-ADDED SERVICE SECTORS

## 2173.  SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the new modern-sector opportunities,  especially  in  high  value-added  service  sectors,  mostly accrue to men, whereas women who find jobs commensurate with their education  levels  have  to  battle  hurdles  such  as  lack  of  transportation and childcare, which could be so severe that they are unable to join that work; and
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government keeping in view the fact that a decline (which is equated with the withdrawal of women from the labour force in the mainstream view) is a manifestation of the changing nature of work availability, especially for rural and less educated women?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (b): The data on employment/ unemployment is being collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  &  Programme  Implementation  (MOSPI)  since 2017-18. The survey provides indicators for the employment/ unemployment scenario  in  the  country  including  for  women.  As  per  the  results  of  PLFS conducted during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR) for women aged 15 years and above on usual status basis is given below:

| Year           |   LFPR (in %) |   UR (in %) |
|----------------|---------------|-------------|
| PLFS (2017-18) |          23.3 |         5.6 |
| PLFS (2018-19) |          24.5 |         5.1 |
| PLFS (2019-20) |          30   |         4.2 |

Government has taken various steps to improve women's participation in the labour  force  and  quality  of  their  employment.  A  number  of  protective provisions have been incorporated in the labour laws for equal opportunity and congenial work  environment  for  women  workers.  These  includes 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.

Employment  of  women  in the aboveground mines including opencast workings  has  been  allowed  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  sex  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.

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.

*****