Centre working on national policy document on female labour force participation

Centre working on national policy document on female labour force participation

Sub : Eco

Sec : Unemployment and Inflation

Context:

• The Centre is set to introduce a national policy document focused on increasing female labour force participation by creating an enabling environment, particularly through a structured care economy.
• An inter-ministerial team from the Ministries of Skill Development, Labour, Rural Development, and Women and Child Development is working on the initiative.

Details:

• The care economy includes paid and unpaid activities like childcare, cooking, cleaning, healthcare, and education.
• The move follows a World Bank report highlighting a significant decline in women’s labour force participation post-marriage in India, with a 12 percentage points drop. This decline occurs even in the absence of children.

Significance of the initiative:

• Aims to address structural barriers preventing women’s participation in the workforce.
• Promotes economic inclusion and gender parity.
• Helps create a viable ecosystem for working women, especially in the informal sector.

Key measures under consideration include:

• A core skilling package for caregivers.
• Childcare facilities for women in the informal sector, such as workers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Existing Initiative: Palna Scheme

• A National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Creche.
• Provides day-care facilities for children of working parents.
• As of now, 1,000 Anganwadi creches are operational under the scheme.