Declining share of women in India's workforce

Growing celebration of International Women's Day in India signifies rising aspiration among women from all walks of life in the country for emancipation and gender equality. Declining female labour force in the country is a bitter truth that often gets buried in the optics of observance of the global day. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data shows that during January to March 2021, the weekly Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women in the country was only 16.9% as against 57.5% of men. To put this data in perspective, the LFPR for women during 2011 Census was 25.51 as compared to 25.63 in 2001 Census. The work participation rate for women in rural areas in 2011 Census was 30.02 per cent as compared to 15.44 per cent in the urban areas. The Work Participation Rate of Women reduced in 2011 even though it recorded improvement from 22.27 per cent in 1991. While 2021 Census operation has been delayed by COVID-19 pandemic, an estimate of the World Bank shows that LFPR in India declined to 20% in 2020 post pandemic. The World Bank Data brings to light harsh realities for India as LFPR for women is estimated to have risen to 32 % in Bangladesh and 54.9 in Nepal, and is 33.6 in Sri Lanka, 44.5 in China, 39.9 in Myanmarand 20.1 in Pakistan even after decline. For estimating LFPR in India, persons who are either 'working' (or employed) or 'seeking or available for work' (or unemployed) constitutes the labour force and this means 80% of women in India above the age of 15 years are neither working nor seeking work. This holds out the mirror to the society about the larger message on women's empowerment in the country. The PLFS data reveal that during2017-18, the overall Worker population Ratio for women in the age group of 15 and above was 22% which indicated that the decline in LFPR in the country has been taking place even before the pandemic which point towards the gaps that have not been addressed to raise LFPR for women. Disaggregated data shows that agriculture sector accounts for the largest share of women work force. Agricultural work being available near the households and mostly within villages of residence or nearby villages explains this. Mechanised paddy transplantation planting has gradually started replacing women agricultural workers as their participation in transplantation in states like Assam is huge. In construction sector too, use of ready-mix concrete has led to more replacement of female workers labourers as compared to male workers. Employment Review by Directorate General of Employment & Training on 31st March, 2011, revealed that about 59.54 lakh women workers were employed in the organized sector (Public and Private Sector). Of this, nearly 32.14 lakh women were employed in community, social and personal service sector. The Ministry of Labour and Employment data states that out of total 149.8 million female workers in 2011, 35.9 million females were working as cultivators and another 61.5 million are agricultural labourers. Of the remaining female's workers, 8.5 million are in household industry and 43.7million are classified as other workers. Comparison of these data with the latest LFPR data presents a gloomy picture about huge section of country's workforce being out of workforce which needs introspection of some of the interventions aimed at increasing women's participation in the workforce. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has highlighted how pandemic situation has aggravated the situation and led to reduction of the women workforce at an alarming rate globally. A new set of global data covering 189 countries compiled jointly by the ILO and UN Women show that as against 13 million male workers who were out of the workforce, about 113 million women aged 25-54 with partners and small children were out of the workforce in 2020 post pandemic. Of the total workers who have registered in the eSHRAM portal launched by the ministry in August last year to create a national database of unorganised workers, including construction workers, migrant workers, street vendors, domestic workers, agriculture workers, nearly 48 % registered workers are male and remaining 52 % workers are female. Under e-SHRAM Portal, the occupation of the worker is being captured to provide identity cards to the workers with their occupations. It will facilitate governments to devise social security welfare schemes to the all the segments of the unorganised workers, according to the government. This, however, does not address the larger issue of declining women participation in the workforce. More women not working means percentage of women not earning is going down which also speak volume about the socio-economic status of the women, about large number of women not having any role in household decision making. Celebration of this International Day for Women bringing new hopes for 80% of women in India can make it more meaningful.