Lok Sabha Question No. 2521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Women employed in Labour Force
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2521

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## WOMEN EMPLOYED IN LABOUR FORCE

## 2521.    SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

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

- (a) whether there is a huge gap in the percentage of men and women employed in the labour force across all sectors including the Government sector;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by the Government to fill the gap;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to employ more women labour force; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (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.  The  survey  period  is  July  to June every year.

As  per  the  latest  available  Annual  PLFS  Reports,  the  estimated  Worker Population Ratio (WPR) on usual status for men and women of age 15 years and above during 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 were as follows:

| Years   |   Men WPR (in %) |   Women WPR (in %) |
|---------|------------------|--------------------|
| 2020-21 |             73.5 |               31.4 |
| 2021-22 |             73.8 |               31.7 |
| 2022-23 |             76   |               35.9 |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The data indicates that the Worker Population Ratio, indicating employment, for both male and female in the country has an increasing trend over the years and the gap is narrowing.

The  employment  generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is  the priority of the Government. Accordingly, the 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. 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.

All these initiatives are expected to collectively generate employment in the medium to long term through multiplier-effects.

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