Gender gap in paid work is worrying

Gender inequality continues to be one of the main features of employment worldwide. According to World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO): Trends for Women 2017, brought out by the International Labour Organisation recently, the global labour force participation rate for women in 2017 is just over 49%, nearly 27% lower than that for men. India is among the countries with the widest gender gap in employment. Surveys of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) reveal that participation of women in employment is higher in rural areas than in urban areas and that female employment has declined over the past decade. The situation in South Asia is worrying. The gender gap in employment is higher here than in any other region. Unlike South Asia, East Asia is doing fairly well with regard to ensuring women’s participation in paid employment. The region showed a participation rate for women of 61.3%, the second highest globally.

India and the rest of South Asia need to reduce the gap between male and female participation in employment. Paid employment for women will empower them. An employed woman is economically more independent. It increases her bargaining power within the family and improves her say in decision-making. Apart from her earnings contributing to the family income, it is important for her personal well-being and development, too. Raising female participation in employment makes eminent economic sense not just for the individual and her family but for the economy, too. The ILO report says that if the gender gap in employment is reduced by 25% it would boost the global economy by $5.8 trillion. Much of this increase would be in emerging and developing economies. India’s economy, for instance, would gain around $1 trillion if the gap is reduced by 2025. Thus there are multiple incentives for individuals, families, governments and the world to increase participation of women in paid employment.

Women’s participation in employment can be increased by removing the barriers to their working outside the home. Lack of security at the workplace and on streets is an important deterrent. Providing women with a safe work environment and putting in place strong measures to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace and enroute to work would increase women’s participation. While India has put in place legislation to fight sexual harassment at work, workplaces need to make this a reality on the ground. Employers should provide affordable childcare facilities and put in place family-friendly policies at work. Equal remuneration for males and females for the same work done should become the norm. Women are an important economic asset to this country. Indian workplaces must tap into their potential. An inclusive growth will ensure sustainable economic growth.