Lok Sabha Question No. 2786 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Technically-qualified Women Professionals
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Devendrappa Y, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Saikia Dilip, Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2786 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## TECHNICALLY-QUALIFIED WOMEN PROFESSIONALS

2786. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH NAIK NIMBALKAR:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI Y. DEVENDRAPPA:

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

- (a)the details and number of technically-qualified women professionals in the total organised workforce in India including press and media of both  Government  and  private  sectors  and  annual  number  of  such
- professionals increased since 2014, year-wise;
- (b)the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide conducive environment at workplaces and to create suitable opportunities to attract and retain such skilled women professionals; (c)whether any study has been conducted to know the status and growth of technically-qualified women professionals in Indian workforce after the launch of  the  scheme  'Be ti  BachaoBeti Padhao'  by the Government; and

(d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. As per  the  latest  available  Annual  PLFS  Reports,  the  estimated  Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) on usual status for women of age 15 years  and above  in the  country was 30.0%, 32.5% and 32.8% during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively, which shows an increasing trend. The estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR) on usual status for women of age 15 years and above was 28.7%, 31.4% and 31.7% during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively, which shows an increasing trend in the women employment.

The  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  provide  a conducive environment for women  at  workplaces. A number  of protective  provisions  have  been  incorporated  in  the  labour  laws  for equal opportunity and congenial work environment for women workers. The Code on Social Security, 2020 has the provisions for 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.

The  Code  on  Occupational  Safety,  Health  And  Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has the provisions for the 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 Code on Wages 2019 has provisions 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.  To  ensure  economic independence  through  skill  development  and  vocational  training,  the Government has also introduced Skill India Mission.

The  Niti  Aayog  had  evaluated  the  schemes  of  Ministry  of Women  and  Child  Development  including  'Beti  Bachao -Beti  Padhao' scheme. As per the evaluation report of Niti Aayog , the scheme has been able to generate significant mass mobilisation towards valuing the girl child and to eliminate gender discrimination. The scheme has been able to develop many good practices and community level initiatives. The awareness about the scheme was also found to be high.

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