Lok Sabha Question No. 769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Women’s Participation in Workforce
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sunita Duggal, E. T. Mohammed Basheer, Thomas Chazhikadan

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 769

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN WORKFORCE

## 769.  SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has data on participation of women in workforce in the Country since 2014 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  number  of  Women  Employees  in  the  Country  against  the  male Employee and the participation of Women employees in Country's GDP;
- (c) whether the Government is determined to increase women's participation in workforce, if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (d) whether women's workforce participation in workforce has decreased in the  backdrop  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  if  so  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to encourage women workforce and women entrepreneurs in the Country and the data of women who remained unemployed since 2014 in Kerala; and
- (e) whether the Government has noticed the recent survey that shows dip in female workers by base year 2013-14, if so, the measures/steps taken by the Government in this regard to increase the women participation?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to  (e):  As  per  Employment-Unemployment  Survey  conducted  by  the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment, the estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR)  on usual status basis for  aged 15 years and above is as follows:

|         | WPR (in%)   | WPR (in%)   |
|---------|-------------|-------------|
| Year    | Male        | Female      |
| 2016-17 | 74.3        | 25.2        |
| 2015-16 | 73.3        | 25.8        |

Later on, data on employment/ unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry  of  Statistics  &  Programme  Implementation  (MOSPI).  As  per  the results  of  PLFS,  the  estimated  Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR)  on  usual status basis for aged 15 years and above is as follows:

|         | WPR (in%)   | WPR (in%)   |
|---------|-------------|-------------|
| PLFS    | Male        | Female      |
| 2017-18 | 71.2        | 22.0        |
| 2018-19 | 71.0        | 23.3        |
| 2019-20 | 73.0        | 28.7        |

Further, the estimated Female Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for age 15 years and above for the State of Kerala is as follows:

| Year (Survey)           | Kerala   |
|-------------------------|----------|
| 2015-16 (Labour Bureau) | 24.5%    |
| 2016-17 (Labour Bureau) | 21.7%    |
| 2017-18 (PLFS) 23.2%    |          |
| 2018-19 (PLFS) 17%      |          |
| 2019-20 (PLFS)          | 15.1%    |

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.

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