Centre starts survey to assess women participation in workforce

Union Ministries of Labour & Employment and Women & Child Development survey is taken to assess the spread of women employee-friendly practices in the country like creche facilities for children and equal pay for equal work

The Union Ministries of Labour & Employment and Women & Child Development have started a joint survey on increasing women participation in the workforce. The survey was announced by Union Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi at a function “Women in the Workforce for Viksit Bharat” on Tuesday.

The survey is being taken to assess the spread of women employee-friendly practices in the country. Various international agencies and trade unions, including the International Labour Organization, had expressed concern over the decrease in participation of female workforce in the country.

The latest results of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the Labour Bureau in October, 2023, had shown considerable increase in the women participation. In 2017-18, the participation rate was 23.3% and in 2022-23, it was 37%.

The survey, conducted by the Union Labour Ministry through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and other government agencies, has asked questions to the subscribers of government schemes about policies or initiatives for women by the companies they are employed with.

The government is seeking details such as formation of internal complaints committee (ICC) for Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace (POSH), creche facilities for children, equal pay for equal work, flexible or remote working hours for women and transportation facilities during late hours.

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A senior officer said the survey is carried out in a confidential manner. “We are not asking the names of [the women] or any other identification detail, except their gender,” the officer said. The name of the company, its location and address are also sought in the survey.