Despite progressive policies aimed at enhancing female workforce participation, Bharat faces a significant hurdle: the lack of workplace creche facilities. Deep-rooted societal expectations often confine women to domestic roles, hindering their entry into the labour market. Even when women overcome these barriers, limited childcare options further impede their professional growth.
The 2017 amendment to the Maternity Benefit Act or MBA mandated larger companies to provide onsite creche services. However, the extent of compliance remains obscure, leaving many working mothers unsupported.
Women bear a disproportionate burden of household and childcare responsibilities, limiting their career prospects. Data from the National Sample Survey Office or NSSO highlights the stark gender disparity in care giving, with women dedicating significantly more time to unpaid domestic work than men.
This imbalance perpetuates gender inequalities, constraining women’s economic empowerment and workforce participation. While women are sidelined due to care giving duties, unemployed men face a contradictory scenario.
Addressing this disparity requires concerted efforts from policymakers and businesses. Karnataka, Assam, and Odisha are among the States taking proactive steps to bridge the creche gap, acknowledging the crucial role of childcare in women’s professional advancement.
By ensuring accessible creche facilities, Bharat can encourage a more inclusive workforce and empower women to thrive in their careers while balancing family responsibilities.
While it’s true that the data doesn’t definitively attribute women’s lower workforce participation solely to unpaid care giving responsibilities, it’s undeniable that childcare duties significantly impact women’s autonomy and time management, especially when they have young children. This burden is often more pronounced for women, adding emotional and physical strain, particularly for those in low-wage jobs who face the added concern of leaving their children unattended.
Bharat’s potential demographic dividend, anticipated to enhance economic growth, hinges on a favourable ratio of working individuals to dependents. However, research suggests that the actual dividend may be lower than expected due to multiple factors, including the disproportionate number of young women not engaged in employment, education, or training compared to men.
The India Employment Report 2024 highlights the stark gender gap in workforce participation among young adults, with young women being significantly more likely to be inactive. Moreover, women allocate a disproportionately larger portion of their time to unpaid activities compared to men, further exacerbating the disparity in economic opportunities.
Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including comprehensive childcare solutions and broader initiatives to promote gender equality in the workforce. By tackling these issues, Bharat can unlock the full potential of its demographic dividend and create a more inclusive and prosperous society for all.
The gender disparity in workforce participation rates is glaring, as highlighted by the India Employment Report 2024. Among young adults aged 15-29, the Worker Population Ratio or WPR for men stands at 54 per cent, while for women, it’s a mere 19 per cent. Additionally, a significant portion of non-student young women – only 32 per cent – are active in the workforce, compared to a staggering 97 per cent of non-student young men.
This discrepancy extends across age brackets, with the WPR and Labour Force Participation Rate or LFPR of males being approximately three times higher than those of females in the 15-29 age group, and over twice as high in the 30-59 age group.
Such stark imbalances underscore the systemic barriers and societal norms that impede women’s access to economic opportunities. Addressing these disparities requires concerted efforts to dismantle gender biases and create an inclusive environment where women can fully participate and contribute to the workforce.
Drawing lessons from States like Assam, Karnataka, Odisha, and Haryana, it’s evident that addressing gender inequality in the workforce requires a multifaceted approach with childcare provision at its core. These States have embarked on initiatives to establish standalone creche facilities or convert existing Anganwadi centers into creches, in line with the National Crèches Scheme and the Palna Scheme under the Mission Shakti Project.
While the Central Government’s directives have spurred action, implementation remains a challenge. Only a few States, such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have fully notified the maternity benefit rules as of recent years, indicating the need for greater urgency and accountability in policy enforcement.
Recognising childcare as a fundamental right for women is paramount. Accessible and quality childcare not only enhances women’s agency but also contributes to economic parity and overall workforce participation. Empirical evidence underscores the positive correlation between childcare availability and women’s engagement in the labour force.
Beyond traditional creche facilities, exploring innovative solutions like day-boarding can further enrich the childcare ecosystem, particularly in urban areas. By enhancing comprehensive childcare infrastructure, we not only support working mothers but also create formalised job opportunities within the care giving sector.
While national standards and protocols exist, effective implementation necessitates local initiatives and partnerships. States pioneering childcare initiatives serve as models for others, offering valuable insights for the development of well-rounded strategies and fiscal plans.
By learning from these States and prioritising childcare as a cornerstone of gender equality efforts, Bharat can create a more inclusive workforce and empower women to realise their full potential in the economy.
