New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The Ministry of Labour and Employment on Thursday said it is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to boost women’s participation in the workforce, highlighting new labour codes, employment-linked incentives and expanded support systems aimed at improving safety, skilling and job opportunities for women.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje cited the latest PLFS data showing a Labour Force Participation Rate of 60.1 per cent and an unemployment rate of 3.2 per cent for those aged 15 and above in 2023–24, while outlining a series of schemes and reforms designed to strengthen women’s employment and empowerment.
The minister said that 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). Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach on a life-cycle 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 minister said.
“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, rationalizing 29 erstwhile labour laws.
Elaborating on the labour codes, the minister said that it includes proportionate representation of women in Grievance Redressal Committee to ensure their voices are included in workplace dispute resolutions, upto 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, along with 12 weeks for adoptive and commissioning mothers and allowing remote work after maternity leave where feasible, and allowing women to work in above-ground mines between 7 pm and 6 am and in below-ground mines between 6 am and 7 pm (with consent) in specific roles, along with other provisions for working women’s safety and health.
It further prohibits gender-based discrimination in matters of wages and conditions of employment for the same or similar work, and promotes 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 conditions 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,” the minister added.
Government highlights Labour Reforms, Schemes to strengthen women’s employment
