Lok Sabha Question No. 2402 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Gender Gap in Labour Force
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2402

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## GENDER GAP IN LABOUR FORCE

2402.  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  huge  gap  between  labour  force participation of men and women in the country and if so, the proportion of women labour force in comparison to men in the country as on date;
- (b) whether a recent study has also stated that India's GDP can expand by 27 per cent if the number of women workers increases to the same level as that of men;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government to narrow the said gap along with the various other programmes specifically initiated for skilling women in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): Reliable estimates of employment and unemployment are obtained through labour force surveys on employment and unemployment conducted by National Sample  Survey  Office,  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation. Last such survey was  conducted during 2011-12. Details of estimated employment and their workforce participation rate for male and female in rural and urban areas on usual status during 2004-05 to 2011-12 are given below:

|               | Male    | Male    | Male     | Female   | Female   | Female   | Total Male + Female   | Total Male + Female   | Total Male + Female   |
|---------------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| WPR           | 2004-05 | 2009-10 | 2011- 12 | 2004- 05 | 2009- 10 | 2011- 12 | 2004- 05              | 2009- 10              | 2011- 12              |
| Rural         | 54.6    | 54.7    | 54.3     | 32.7     | 26.1     | 24.8     | 43.9                  | 40.8                  | 39.9                  |
| Urban         | 54.9    | 54.3    | 54.6     | 16.6     | 13.8     | 14.7     | 36.5                  | 35.0                  | 35.5                  |
| Rural + Urban | 54.7    | 54.6    | 54.4     | 28.7     | 22.8     | 21.9     | 42.0                  | 39.2                  | 38.6                  |

Decline  in  female  labour  force  participation  rate  during  2004-05  to  2011-12  may  be attributed to increase in level of income in rural areas due to increase in real wages, higher level of participation in education, etc.

(b) to (d): Increasing the female labour force participation rate is a global concern and the G-20 countries have targeted to reduce the gender gap in these rates by 25 % by 2025.It  has  also  been  estimated  by  the  G-20  group,    that  if  the  number  of  female workers were to increase to the same level as the number of men, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would expand by 5 percent in the United States, by 9 percent in Japan and by 27 percent in India.

For skilling to provide employment in the country, a new Ministry of Skill Development and  Entrepreneurship  has  been  established  to  coordinate  the  skill  activities  across Ministries. In order to improve the employability of youth including women, around 20

Ministries run skill development schemes across 70 sectors.

Government has implemented the National Career Service having a portal (www.ncs.gov.in) for online registration and posting of jobs for job-seekers and provide other employment related services.

Government has also taken measures through schemes such as Ajeevika, Seeko Aur Kamao, National Rural Livelihood Mission, National Urban Livelihood Mission etc. will enhance  the  skill  Potential  of  rural  and  urban  females  and  make  them  employable. Statutory provisions have been made in certain Labour laws for organizing child care centers for the benefit of women workers, The Factories Act, 1948, the Beedi & Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966 and the Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and conditions of Service) Act, 1996. The Mines Crèche  Rules,  1966  provide  for  establishment  of  crèches  for  the  benefit  of  women workers.  The  Plantation  Labour  Act,  1951  provides  that  the  women  workers  be provided time-off for feeding children and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 also provides for child care facilities at worksite.

Ministry of Women & Child Development has been administering Support to Training and  Employment  Programme  for  Women  (STEP)  since  1986-87  as  a  Çentral  Sector Scheme'. The STEP Scheme aims to provide skills that give employability to women and to provide competencies and skill that enable women to become self-employed/ entrepreneurs.

Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  is  also  envisaging  economic empowerment  of  women  through  trade  related  training,  information  and  counseling extension activities related to trades, products, services, etc.

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