4 min readNew DelhiJan 31, 2024 01:44 PM IST
First published on: Jan 31, 2024 at 05:33 AM IST
Amid concerns over the suboptimal rate of female labour force participation in the country, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) have launched a new survey on “increasing women participation in the workforce”. The EPFO, which is the retirement fund body for organised sector workers under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has reached out to its subscribers seeking details regarding the working facilities available for women workers in companies across the country, including provision of flexibility in working hours for women and ‘equal pay’ for female workers.
The survey has a detailed questionnaire seeking organisation details, including whether the company provides an internal complaints committee for addressing Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) formalities, crèche facilities for children, and transportation facilities during late hours. The survey has also sought answers on whether there is ‘equal pay for equal work’ for male and female workers along with a query on availability of flexible or remote working hours for women.
The survey questionnaire has been shared by the EPFO with its nearly 30 crore subscribers across the country. The employer rating survey was launched at an event “Women in the Workforce for Viksit Bharat” by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the WCD ministry on Tuesday. Details have to submitted on the myscheme.gov.in portal.
As per the EPFO’s Annual Report for 2022-23, there are 29.88 crore members across 21.23 lakh establishments under the ambit of the retirement fund body.
Data shows women’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) has improved over the last few years but much of this increase has been seen in the unpaid work category. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the female participation rate rose to 27.8 per cent in 2022-23 from 17.5 per cent in 2017-18, but a major chunk of this is of the women reported as “helpers in household enterprises”, who do not receive any regular salary for their work.
According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, female LFPR reduced to 8.73 per cent in 2022-23 from 11.80 per cent in 2017-18. Female LFPR in rural areas slowed to 9.68 per cent in 2022-23 from 12.16 per cent in 2017-18, while that in urban areas moderated to 6.90 per cent in 2022-23 from 11.10 per cent in 2017-18.
Globally, the South Asia region had a female labour force participation rate of 26 per cent in 2022, with India’s neighbouring countries registering female LFPR of 33 per cent in Sri Lanka, 25 per cent in Pakistan, 29 per cent in Nepal, 38 per cent in Bangladesh and 61 per cent in China, as per World Bank.
In the proposed four labour codes, which are expected to replace a set of 44 central labour laws and are likely to come into effect after elections, the government has incorporated specific provisions for safeguarding the employment of women workers. The Code on Social Security, 2020 provides for enhanced paid maternity leave, provision for mandatory crèche facilities in establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc. The Code on Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has proposed tweaks in employment terms and conditions for women workers in the above-ground mines. The Code on Wages 2019 has provisions for no gender-based discrimination for wages in an establishment for similar nature of work.
As per the EPFO’s Annual Report for 2022-23, there are 29.88 crore members across 21.23 lakh establishments under the ambit of the retirement fund body. (Express File Photo) 
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