When it comes to conversations around women at workplaces, one thing that is often discussed is the need for better opportunities for them. And the Economic Survey 2020-21, which was tabled in the Parliament on 29th January, attests to this. As per the survey, there is a need to promote practices at the workplace that are non-discriminatory in nature, to encourage more participation from women in the labour force.
According to the survey, the participation rate of females who are in the productive age for 15 to 59 years was 26.5 per cent in 2018-19, compared to 80.3 per cent males, collectively in rural and urban areas.
Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the survey findings, said, “In order to incentivise more women to join into the labour force, investment in institutional support to affordable and quality childcare facilities, paid paternal leave, family-friendly work environment, and support for elderly care needs to be made.” The survey further recommends the “need to promote non-discriminatory practices at the workplace like pay and career progression, improve work incentives, including other medical and social security benefits for female workers”.
The low rate of participation of women in the labour force is due to their high participation in unpaid domestic services, such as taking care of the household, which is marked at 55.7 per cent in rural areas, and 59.1 per cent in urban areas as of 2018-19.
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