Women s Employment

8/13/2019 Women s Employment

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Womens Employment

The Indian Scenario


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Poverty has a womans face

The International Labour Organisation says Women represent 50% of the population 30% of the labour force

Perform 60% of all working hours Receive 10% of the worlds income Own less than 1% of the worlds property


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Per Capita Income and Distribution of Labour Force

Country Year

PerCapitaIncomein US$

Percentage of LabourForce in

Agri-culture

Indus-try

Services

USA1990-

92 22,340 3 25 72

India1990-

92 330 62 11 27

Source: Human Development Report 1994


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Composition of GDP and Labour Force

Coun-try Year

% of GDP % Distribution ofLabour Force

Agriculture

Indus-try

Servi-ces

Agriculture

Indus-try

Servi-ces

USA 1995 2 26 72 3 28 69

India 1995 29 29 41 64 16 20

Source: World Development Report 1997


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Womens Employment

Women undertaking productive work wherethere is economic participation of women inthe labour market.

Adult females in a given population thatwork for pay, and the conditions underwhich they work


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Economic participation?

Production of goods and services accountedin the national income statistics

Female work participation rate low (26%for women vs. 52% for men)

Women have always been at work, only the

definitions of work and work plan have not been realistic to include their contribution tothe economy and society.


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Some Definitions

Work Force Participation Rate is the proportion ofworking population to total population.

Labour force excludes children below the age of 15and old people above the age of 60.

Worker is one gainfully employed or one workingfor a livelihood excluding unpaid familyworkers.


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Why do women work ?

Economic necessity Economic

independence Qualified to work Sense of achievement

Pastime Service to society Status symbol Power and prestige


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Economic Need to work

Indian women by and large undertakeproductive work only under economiccompulsion. This is the reason for highfemale participation rates for economicallyunder privileged communities. Upper class

women usually were limited to their homes.


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Rural vs. Urban

Work participation rate is higher among rural women (27%) than the urban women (10%)Female Workers 90:10 in favour of rural

areas (male - 80:20)


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Main vs. Marginal Workers

Women go in for temporary and stand-by jobs because of hesitancy to employ women in regular

jobs and providing them with good workingconditions. The main workers are those whowork for major part of the year.

Female main workers constitute 14.65% of the population (males - 50.54%).

Female marginal workers constitute 6.26% of the population (males - 0.98%).


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Organised vs. UnorganisedSector

Most of the women are also found to be employed inagricultural activities and in the unorganised

sector i.e. The organised sector like banks,offices, educational institutions show low levels offemale participation in the workforce. Theemployment of women is high in unorganisedsector such as part time helpers in households,construction sector, tanneries (setting, parting &drying), match and beedi industries.


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Informal Sector an important source of work for women

90% of the working women are involved inthe informal sector and not included in theofficial statistics. (The World Bank, 1991 an estimate)

Undocumented, disguised wage work unskilled, low paying and do not provide

benefits to the worker


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Some points to consider

Difficulties in making generalisations in the Indiansociety diversity in regions/religions/social and

economic setup Hierarchical Society caste or caste-like group Patriarchal double-standards Sexual discrimination/harassment Womens unemployment rates similar to mens

2% in rural areas and 5% in urban areas (NSSO,1994)


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Age

Female workers relatively young As age increases, the ratio of female to male

workers decreases


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Agricultural Sector

Vast majority of Indians work inAgriculture

55% of the female agricultural workers (vs.30% of the men) are labourers - notcultivators.


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Service Sector

Occupations such as government, teaching,religious activities, entertainment, socialwork involve 8% of all female mainworkers.


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Percent Distribution of MainWorkers by Category: 1991

Males Agricultural

Labourer Cultivator

Household Industry

Services

Non-householdIndustryOther Categories

Females

Agricultural Labourer

Cultivator

Household Industry

Services

Non-household Industry

Other Categories


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Technology

Negative Impact on womens employmentopportunities especially in rural areas:

Harvesting Wheat grinding Small scale industries match industry Weaving


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Employment & Economic Independence

Even if a woman is employed, she may not havecontrol over the money she earns.

Women are expected to devote all their time, energyand earnings to the family.

Many Indian women seek their husbands permission when they wish to purchase somethingfor themselves.


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Education and Work

Only 40% of the women (men 64%) areliterate, majority having only a primaryeducation or less.

Higher levels of education for women do notdirectly translate into higher proportions ofmain workers.


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Distinct Work Experiences in Different Areas of the Country

Larger rural populations have larger femaleemployment rates

Exceptions Punjab and Haryana(richer/cultural practices)


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Conclusion

The place of women in the workforce variesaccording to societal

Structure Needs Customs Attitudes

Women s Employment

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