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Context:

Women Shifting from Unpaid Domestic Work to Paid Jobs.

About India’s 2024 Time Use Survey

It is a critical tool for understanding how individuals allocate their time across various activities, including paid work, unpaid domestic tasks, caregiving, education, leisure, and self-care.

It is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

It provides insights into evolving gender roles, labor participation, and societal norms.

Origins

The inaugural TUS was conducted in 2019, covering 139,487 households (83,247 rural and 56,240 urban) and 454,192 individuals aged six and above.

The 2024 TUS, conducted from January to December, expanded on the 2019 framework. It collected data from the same demographic (6+ years) across 1,39,487 households, using computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) to record daily activity patterns.

Key Findings of the 2024 Survey

Employment Participation

Women aged 15–59: Employment-related activity participation rose to 25% in 2024 (from 21.8% in 2019).

Men aged 15–59: Participation increased to 75% (from 70.9% in 2019).

Daily time spent on employment: Men (473 minutes) spent 132 minutes more than women (341 minutes).

Unpaid Domestic Work

Women’s time in unpaid domestic services dropped to 305 minutes/day in 2024 (from 315 minutes in 2019), signaling a gradual shift to paid work.

Women still spent 201 minutes more than men (88 minutes) on such tasks.

Caregiving Responsibilities

41% of women aged 15–59 participated in caregiving for household members, compared to 21.4% of men.

Women spent 140 minutes/day on caregiving, while men spent 74 minutes.

Other Activities

Learning: Children (6–14 years) spent 413 minutes/day on education.

Leisure/Culture: All participants spent 171 minutes/day on leisure, with women (164 minutes) trailing men (177 minutes).

Self-care: Averaged 708 minutes/day (11.8 hours) for all ages.

Drivers of Change

Rising living costs and financial needs may push more women into paid work.

Higher female literacy rates and awareness of labor rights are encouraging workforce entry.

Government initiatives like the Emigration (Overseas Mobility Facilitation and Welfare) Bill (to regulate employment agencies) and skill development programs could further boost participation.

Gender Disparities and Social Norms

Persistent Gender Gaps

• Despite progress, women still shoulder 70% of unpaid domestic work and 62% more caregiving time than men .
• The economic value of women’s unpaid labor is estimated at $270 billion annually, yet India allocates only 1% of GDP to care infrastructure (e.g., childcare, eldercare) .

Social Norms

• The survey underlines traditional gender roles, with women bearing the bulk of caregiving and domestic duties, which limits their workforce participation and increases economic inequality .

Must Read Articles:

NATIONAL POLICY PAPER ON FEMALE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION

WOMEN WORKERS 

Source:

 THE HINDU

https://t.me/+hJqMV1O0se03Njk9