Lok Sabha Question No. 3778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Labour Force Participation Rate of Women in Bihar
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3778

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  MARCH, 2026

## LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE OF WOMEN IN BIHAR

## 3778.      SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

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

- (a) the details of the Labour Force Participation Rate of Women in the country during the last five years and the current year, year and State/UT-wise, particularly in Bihar;
- (b) the  details  of  the  number  of  female  beneficiaries  covered  under the  Employment  Promotion  Scheme  in  Bihar  during  the  said period;
- (c) whether any assessment has been conducted regarding the low level  of  women's  workforce  participation  in  Bihar  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the funds allocated and released by the Government for  women's  employment  promotion  programmes  in  Bihar  during the said period; and
- (e) the details of targeted measures suggested by the Government to improve women's workforce participation in Bihar?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (e):  The  official  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which is conducted  by  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.

As per the latest Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Labour Force Participation  Rate  (LFPR)  on  usual  status  for  females  of  age  15  years and above in the country was 23.3% in 2017-18, 24.5 in 2018-19, 30.0% in 2019-20, 32.5% in 2020-21, 32.8% in 2021-22 and 37.0% in 2022-23 and 41.7% in 2023-24. Also, the estimated LFPR for females of age 15 years and above in the State of Bihar was 38.2%, 40.4%, 41.8%, 41.9%, 41.8%, 48.9% and 53.2% during the same period. State/UT-wise information is available in the PLFS reports which may be seen at the website of MoSPI at https://www.mospi.gov.in/publications-reports .

Further, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for females of age 15 years and above has decreased from 2.8% in 2017-18 to  1.4%  in  2023-24  in  the  State  of  Bihar  and  the  estimated  Worker Population  Ratio  (WPR)  indicating  employment  on  usual  status  for females of age 15 years and above has increased from 4.0% to 30.1%

during the same period in the State of Bihar.

Employment  generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is the  priority  of  the  Government.  Government  is  implementing  various schemes  to  boost  the  female  Labour  Force  Participation  Rate  (LFPR). The  details  of  various  employment  generation  schemes/programmes being implemented by the Government may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes .

In  order  to  encourage  employment  of  women,  the  four  Labour Codes - the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 have been implemented with effect from 21st November 2025, rationalizing 29 erstwhile labour laws.

These  labour  codes  have  various  provisions  to  promote  female labour force participation such as :-

- (i) Proportionate  representation  of  women  in  Grievance  Redressal Committee  to  ensure  their  voices  are  included  in  workplace  dispute resolutions.
- (ii) Up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, along with 12 weeks for adoptive  and  commissioning  mothers  and  allowing  remote  work  after maternity leave where feasible.
- (iii) Prohibition of gender-based discrimination in matters of wages and conditions of employment for the same or similar work.
- (iv) Promoting creche facilities for children below the age of six to help working mothers balance work and family life.

Further,  the  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working  Conditions Code, 2020 has allowed women to be employed in all establishments for all types of work and may also be employed with their consent before 6 a.m. and beyond 7 p.m. subject to condition relating to safety, holidays and working hours.  The Code also provides that adequate safeguards are  to  be  provided  by  establishments  before  engaging  women  in  any hazardous or dangerous processes.

With a view to ensure safety of women at workplace, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has put in place an electronic platform Box  portal'  duly  encompassing  various  provisions  of  'the  Sexual and

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 leave, family emergency leave and flexible working arrangements.

'SHe -Harassment  of Women  at  Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act, 2013' (SH Act). 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. Government has also adopted a multi-pronged approach on a lifecycle  continuum  basis  to  address  the  issue  of  educational,  social, economic  and  political  empowerment  of  women.  As  a  result,  India  is witnessing a rapid transition from women's -development to women led development with the vision of a new India where women are leading the way for fast paced and sustainable national development. The Government has also made enabling provisions in the Companies Act, 2013, mandating companies to have at least one-woman Director. 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. Participation'.  This  advisory  inter

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