Representative Image (credit:Ravi N Jha/ Unsplash)
New Delhi: Women’s labour force participation in India increased from 23.3% in 2019-20 to 41.7% in 2023-24, the Union government told Parliament. This information was provided by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje in a written response to a question posed by Lok Sabha MP Tanuj Punia.
The official data regarding employment and unemployment in the country is sourced from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which has been conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.
Furthermore, according to Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) Payroll Data, 26.9 lakh net female subscribers were added, indicating an increasing shift towards formal sector employment.
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“Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government,” Minister said. Karandlaje detailed about the measures undertaken in this regard.
Through various schemes, government is attempting to enhance the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and some of them are Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Stand-UP India Scheme, Startup India, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Besides, the government is running the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, a one-stop solution for providing career related services and has approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors.
“A number of protective provisions have been incorporated in the labour laws for equal opportunity and congenial work environment for women workers,” Minister said.
Minister has also stated that Government is implementing Skill India Mission (SIM) to deliver skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres/ schools/ colleges /institutes etc. under various schemes. In addition, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial Training Institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institute.
Through implementing ‘Palna’ component under Mission Shakti, Ministry of Women and Child Development is providing day care facilities and protection of children. Another programme called “NAVYA’ (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls), the government aims to equip adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 years with vocational training mainly in non-traditional and emerging job roles.
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In January 2024, the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued an advisory requesting employers to promote women’s workforce participation through family-friendly measures like paternity leave and flexible work.
Furthermore, the Union Budget (2024-25) announced setting up of working women hostels in association with industry, and establishing crèches, in order to enhance the employability of female workers.
Minister also mentioned about the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976 which prohibits gender discrimination in pay for equal or similar work.
