There are several initiatives and protective provisions
to improve women’s participation in the labour force.
Now women get paid maternity leave of 26 weeks
instead of earlier 12 weeks.
he Periodic Labour Force Survey T(PLFS) conducted during 2017-18 and 2018-19 NSO showed Female Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for 15 years and above was 5.6% and 5.1% respectively.
According to Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective – December 2020, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation during April 2020 – December 2020, there was an addition of nearly a million female subscribers under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 1.13 lakh female subscribers under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and around 2.03 lakh female subscribers under Employees’ State Insurance Scheme.
The government launched Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) Scheme to incentivise the creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This scheme, implemented through the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), reduces the financial burden of employers of various industries, including MSMEs and encourages them to hire more workers. Under ABRY, the government pays employees’ share (12 percent of the wages) and equal share of employers’ contribution for two years.
There are several initiatives and protective provisions to improve women’s participation in the labour force. These include a higher-paid maternity leave of 26 weeks. Earlier it was 12 weeks.
There is also a provision for mandatory crèche facilities in companies with 50 or more workers, permitting women workers in night-shifts with adequate safety measures.
To enhance the employability of female workers, the government provides them training through a network of Women Industrial Training Institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes.
