Lok Sabha Question No. 3352 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Female Labour Force Participation
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3352

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## FEMALE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION

## 3352.    SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

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

- (a) whether the higher working age population which India is going to have  in  the  coming  years  will  automatically  boost  economic fortunes;
- (b) whether  for  economic  boost,  the  population  has  to  be  gainfully employed;
- (c) the manner in which the Government looks at the gender divide in labour force participation where female labour force participation is nearly 30% less than the male labour force participation; and
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to bring down this gap?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (d): The official data source on Employment and Unemployment is Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is 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 persons of age 15 years and above has increased from 46.8% in 2017-18 to 58.2% in 2023-24.

Further,  the  estimated  female  Labour  Force  Participation  Rate (LFPR)    on  usual  status  for  persons  of  age  15  years  and  above  has increased  from  23.3%  in  2017-18  to  41.7%  in  2023-24  whereas  the estimated LFPR for male has increased from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.8% in 2023-24. The data indicates that female LFPR has increased by 18.4 percent points as compared to 3 percent points for male LFPR during 2017-18 to 2023-24.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is a priority of Government. Government has taken various initiatives/measures to boost employment opportunities in the country, including for women like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), StandUP India Scheme, Startup India, Prime Minister's Employment Generation  Programme  (PMEGP),  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY),  Rural  Self  Employment  and  Training Institutes (RSETIs), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Production Linked Incentive, etc. The details of various employment generation schemes/ programmes being implemented by the Government of India may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes.

Government is also implementing  women centric schemes such as Mission Shakti, Namo Drone Didi, Lakhpati Didi, Women in Science and EngineeringKIRAN (WISE-KIRAN), SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities  for  Women  in  Exploratory  Research),  etc.  for  improving the employability of women.

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.

A number of provisions have been incorporated in the labour laws for  equal  opportunity  and  congenial  work  environment  for  women workers, such as paid maternity leave, child care leave, creche facility, equal wages etc.

Further,  the  Union  Budget  (2024-25)  announced  setting  up  of working women hostels in collaboration with industry, and establishing creches, for increasing participation of women in the workforce.

In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  in  January, 2024 issued an 'Advisory for Employers to Promote Women Workforce -alia  mentions  the  need  for  balance between employment and care responsibilities for both men and women including  family  friendly  measures  such  as  paternity  leave,  parental

Participation'.  This  advisory  inter leave, family emergency leave and flexible working arrangements.

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