Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-working-on-national-policy-paper-on-female-labour-force-participation/article68934963.ece#:~:text=The%20focus%20is%20on%20providing,a%20viable%20care%20economy%20structure&text=The%20Centre%20will%20soon%20bring,a%20viable%20care%20economy%20structure. 

Context:

The Union Government is soon to release a national policy document on female labor force participation to create a supportive atmosphere for the care economy structure.

Which ministries are involved in drafting the policy?

The policy is being drafted by an inter-ministerial team that includes the Ministries of Skill Development, Labor, Rural Development, and Women and Child Development.

What is the Care Economy?

The Care Economy includes all paid and unpaid care services, including health care, education, childcare, eldercare, and domestic work. It includes both direct care (feeding children) and indirect care (cooking, cleaning).

Why is the Care Economy significant for India?

The Care Economy is important to promote the health of children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. It has the potential to reduce gender inequalities in unpaid work while also increasing female labour force participation to promote economic growth.

What challenges do women face in relation to the Care Economy?

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 53% of Indian women are out of the labour force due to caregiving responsibilities, compared to only 1.1% of men.    

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24, 36.7% of females and 19.4% of the workforce engage in unpaid domestic and household work.

Among people aged 6 and more, 26.2% of females spend more than two hours per day on caregiving, compared to only 12.4% of males, indicating the disproportionate caregiving burden borne by women.

Proposed national policy for increasing female workforce participation

The policy focuses on the development of the care economy by improving both direct and indirect care services.

A specialized training program for caregivers, particularly in childcare, will be considered.

Childcare facilities, particularly for MGNREGA workers, will be established. 

Must Read Articles: 

CARE ECONOMY

WOMEN WORKERS

GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT 2024

GLOBAL GENDER INDEX

FEMALE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION

Source: 

The Hindu