**Executive Summary:**
This document presents the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's response to questions regarding women's labor force participation in India, based on data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). It addresses concerns about declining rural women's participation, data collection methods, gender inequality, and government initiatives to support women in the workforce. The data presented spans from July 2019-June 2020 to July 2023-June 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) Trends:**
* LFPR among rural females (usual status psss) increased from 24.7% in 2019-20 to 35.5% in 2023-24.
* Overall, LFPR for females (usual status psss) has increased across rural, urban, and combined sectors from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
* **PLFS Data Coverage:**
* PLFS includes economic activities that add value to the national product.
* It covers market activities (pay/profit based) and specific non-market activities, including primary sector activities (collection of crops, forestry, etc.) and own-account production of fixed assets.
* **PLFS Methodology Amendment:**
* Amending the methodology of the PLFS survey is currently not under consideration by the NSO, MoSPI.
* **Addressing Gender Inequality:**
* Estimates of motherhood penalty are not available from PLFS.
* The Code on Social Security, 2020 includes provisions for:
* Enhanced paid maternity leave (26 weeks).
* Mandatory crèche facilities in establishments with 50+ employees.
* Permitting women in night shifts with safety measures.
* The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements the Palna component under Mission Shakti, providing childcare facilities through Anganwadi cum Creches (AWCC).
* The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 mandates equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
* The Ministry of Labour and Employment issued an advisory in January 2024 for employers to promote women's workforce participation, including family-friendly measures.
* The Union Budget 2024-25 announced plans to establish working women hostels and crèches in collaboration with industry.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Rural Women:**
* *Impact:* Affected by initiatives aimed at increasing labor force participation and ensuring fair wages. Data indicates a rise in LFPR.
* *Action Required:* To be aware of available support programs and opportunities for economic activity.
* **Employers:**
* *Impact:* Required to comply with the Code on Social Security, 2020 regarding maternity leave and crèche facilities. Encouraged to adopt family-friendly employment practices.
* *Action Required:* Implement policies that support women's workforce participation, including providing crèche facilities, flexible work arrangements, and equal pay.
* **Government (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Labour and Employment):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for monitoring women's labor force participation, implementing supportive policies, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
* *Action Required:* Continue to conduct PLFS surveys, enforce the Equal Remuneration Act, support childcare facilities, and promote policies encouraging women's employment.
* **Women Workers:**
* *Impact:* Beneficiaries of increased maternity leave, childcare support, and equal pay initiatives.
* *Action Required:* Be aware of their rights and entitlements under the law and available support programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for statistical data collection and analysis and for programme implementation.
National Statistics Office: The organization, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, that conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
Periodic Labour Force Survey: A survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) to estimate labour force participation rates and employment trends.
All India: Refers to the national level data and scope within India.
Code on Social Security, 2020: Indian legislation that includes provisions for maternity leave, crèche facilities, and women working in night shifts.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Mission Shakti: A scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development that includes the Palna component for providing day care facilities.
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976: Indian legislation that provides for equal pay for equal work for men and women.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1612
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
WOMEN LABOUR FORCE
1612. SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:
Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the labour force
participation rate of rural women is declining over the years, if
so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(b) the details of the steps taken by the Government to check this
decline.
(c) whether the work done by the women in the domestic or
unorganised sector is not properly recorded in the Periodic
Labour Force Survey (PLFS) surveys, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to amend this methodology of
survey, if so, the details thereof;
(e) the current participation rate of women labour and the details of
increase or decrease women participation in labour force
recorded during the last five years along with separate data for
rural/urban areas;
(f) whether the women workers face any kind of inequality or
receive lower wages in the labour market after motherhood,
which is called motherhood penalty; and
(g) whether the Government has conducted any study on evaluation
in this regard and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF
STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF
STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE [RAO
INDERJIT SINGH]
(a) and (b): From the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conductedby the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and
Program Implementation (MoSPI) during July 2019-June 2020 to July
2023-June 2024, the estimates of Labour Force Participation Rate
(LFPR) according to usual status (ps+ss) among rural females at all
India level are given below in Table 1:
Table (1): Labour Force Participation Rate (in per cent) according
to usual status (ps+ss) for rural females from PLFS
all-India
Survey year LFPR (in percent) in usual status among rural
females
PLFS, 2019-20 24.7
PLFS, 2020-21 27.7
PLFS, 2021-22 27.2
PLFS, 2022-23 30.5
PLFS, 2023-24 35.5
(c): In PLFS, coverage of economic activity includes any activity
that results in production of goods and services that adds value to
national product. The term ‘economic activity’ includes:
i. all the market activities described above, i.e., the activities
performed for pay or profit which result in production of goods
and services for exchange,
ii. of the non-market activities,
(1) all the activities relating to the primary sector which result in
production (including free collection of uncultivated crops, forestry,
firewood, hunting, fishing, mining, quarrying, etc.) of primary goods,
including threshing and storing of grains for own consumption.
and
(2) the activities relating to the own-account production of fixed
assets. Own account production of fixed assets includes construction
of own houses, roads, wells, etc., and of machinery, tools, etc., for
household enterprise and also construction of any private or
community facilities free of charge.
(d): The feasibility of amending methodology of PLFS survey is
presently not under consideration of NSO, MoSPI.
(e): From the PLFS conducted during July 2019-June 2020 to July
2023-June 2024, the estimates of LFPR according to usual status
(ps+ss) among females at all India level in rural sector, urban sector
and rural+urban combined are given below in Table 2:Table (2): Labour Force Participation Rate (in per cent) according
to usual status (ps+ss)
all-India
Survey year Rural Urban Rural+Urban
PLFS, 2019-20 24.7 18.5 22.8
PLFS, 2020-21 27.7 18.6 25.1
PLFS, 2021-22 27.2 18.8 24.8
PLFS, 2022-23 30.5 20.2 27.8
PLFS, 2023-24 35.5 22.3 31.7
(f) to (g): The estimates of ‘motherhood penalty’ are not available
from PLFS. However, the Government of India has incorporated a
number of protective provisions in the labour laws for equal
opportunity and congenial work environment for women workers. The
Code on Social Security, 2020 has the provisions for enhancement in
paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, provision for
mandatory crèche facility in the establishments having 50 or more
employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with
adequate safety measures, etc.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing ‘Palna’
component under Mission Shakti for all States/UTs, under which
providing day care facilities and protection of children is the main
focus area. Under Palna, Ministry has extended free services of
childcare through Anganwadi cum Creches (AWCC).
The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 provides for payment of equal
remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work
of similar nature without any discrimination.
In addition, Ministry of Labour and Employment in January, 2024
issued an “Advisory for Employers to Promote Women Workforce
Participation”. This advisory inter-alia mentions the need for balance
between employment and care responsibilities for both men and
women including family friendly measures such as paternity leave,
parental leave, family emergency leave and flexible working
arrangements.
The Union Budget (2024-25) announced setting up of working women
hostels in collaboration with industry, and establishing crèches, for
increasing participation of women in the workforce.
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