53% of Indian women remain outside labour force due to care responsibilities: ILO Report | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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53% of Indian women remain outside labour force due to care responsibilities: ILO Report

Posted 05 Nov 2024

2 min read

As per the report, Care responsibilities is the main barrier preventing women from participating in labour force, whereas men usually cite other personal reasons such as education or illness.

Key Highlights of report

  • Persistent gender gaps:  A gap of 24% existed between women (48.7%) and men (73%) in global labour force participation rate(2023)
  • Gendered division of Care Responsibilities: 748 million people aged 15 and above were outside the labour force due to care responsibilities, of which 708 million were women.
  • Multiple layers of Disadvantages faced by Rural women : such as informal economy, lack of access to social protection and essential public services in labour market

Key Recommendations on Improving women participation in Labor Force

  • Investing in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): It could increase women’s employment to a global average of 56.5% in 2035, from 46.2% in 2019. 
  • Promoting the 5Rs of decent work in care work: It includes recognise, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent. 
  • Collect and disseminate data: In line with existing international statistical standards on paid and unpaid care work, etc. 

Key Frameworks in India to promote Women Labour Force participation

  • Directive Principles of State Policy: Under Article 39(d) promotes equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
  • Maternity Benefit Act, 1961: Amended in 2017 to increase the duration of paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. 
  • Code on Social Security, 2020: Contains provision for creche facility in establishments with 50 or more employees. 
  • Tags :
  • Care Economy
  • Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
  • Women in Labor Force
  • Gendered Division
  • Article 39(b)
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