Lok Sabha Question No. 1104 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Equal Opportunities for Women
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1104

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2021

## EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN

## 1104. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

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

- (a) whether there is a lack of data at the central level about the number of women participating in the workforce, and the manner in which the said number has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and if so, the reasons for such lack of data; and
- (b) the  steps  being  taken by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  there  is increase  in  quality  and  quantity  of  women's  employment,  equal opportunities for women, reducing gender pay gap and fulfilling other objectives  under  the  G20  Brisbane  Goal  and  the  G20  Roadmap Towards and Beyond the Brisbane Target?

## 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  estimated  Female  Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR)  on usual  status  (ps+ss)  for  15  years  and  above  is  22%,  23.3%  and  28.7%, respectively.

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. National Career Service (NCS) Project provides a variety of employment related services like job search, job matching, career counseling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses etc. on a common platform with efficient use of information technology.   In order to promote women empowerment and to encourage skilling and employment  amongst  females,  NCS  provides  various  opportunities  and features specifically focused for women candidates. All these provisions/ initiatives help in fulfilling objectives under the G20 Brisbane Goal and the G20 Roadmap Towards and Beyond the Brisbane Target as well.

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