TO working group Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra is studying ways to boost female participation in the workforce. She is considering a new framework comprising a mix of various flexible work arrangements for women that could be suggested to states and industry.
“This (proposed framework) may not be regulatory but advisory in nature for states and companies to follow,” a person familiar with the deliberations told ET.
The flexible working arrangements being examined could be built into existing work schedules and be sector-specific, the source said. Recommendations could first be issued for sectors that already have a higher female participation, such as the care economy.The Centre is studying various models of flexible work arrangements, such as working fewer hours per day or week, and the issues related to them. The working group has held multiple rounds of deliberations with key stakeholders, including industry and experts, and is expected to submit its report later this year, the source said.
The task force is also expected to come up with a plan to address some of the challenges faced by women, including measures to improve mobility and public transport. It could also make suggestions to ensure social security benefits for women, including those employed in the informal sector, in order to enhance women’s empowerment.
The female participation rate in the global workforce is over 50%, compared to 80% for men. In India, it is well below the global average, at 37%, compared to 77.2% for men.
The Government believes that women tend to leave the workforce or avoid accepting formal jobs due to family responsibilities.
A National Family Health Survey study showed that Indian women contribute only 18% of the gross domestic product (GDP), despite constituting 48% of the population, and reducing the gender gap in employment could potentially lead to a 30% increase in the country’s GDP.
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