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[ #thread on women's employment] Surprise surprise!
India’s economy is in big trouble. In the last week of August, the federal government admitted that the country's GDP had shrunk by around 24%. For context, GDP of the US contracted by around 9%.
India’s economy is in big trouble. In the last week of August, the federal government admitted that the country's GDP had shrunk by around 24%. For context, GDP of the US contracted by around 9%.
What can the government do? Many things. But consider this.
A 2020 United Nations Global Compact study found that raising women's participation in the labour force to the same level as men can boost India's GDP by 27 %.
Not bad, eh?
A 2020 United Nations Global Compact study found that raising women's participation in the labour force to the same level as men can boost India's GDP by 27 %.
Not bad, eh?
But, only countries like Iran, Jordan and Lebanon are worse off than India when it comes to female Labour Force Participation rate - the share of women aged 15-64 who report either as being employed, or being available for work. India's is 24.8% in 2020. Down from 34% in 2006.
Turns out, the #lockdown has been worse for young women's seeking jobs. Basis @_CMIE figures, I did this story for @Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/rakshakumar/2020/09/25/young-women-face-the-brunt-of-indian-economic-downturn/#6a9498ca6d20
One of the biggest fears of dipping employment figures for younger women is an increase in early age marriages. Considering, there were 5,584 phone calls to prevent underage marriages across the country between March and June, the situation might be worse than we think.
Women who work in agriculture find themselves in a worse position thanks to the #lockdown. I had worked on the issue earlier with data from @CadastaOrg @FES_India @Landesa_Global etc. But, I did this story on the immediate situation. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rakshakumar/2020/09/21/the-invisible-hands-that-feed-12-billion-people/#62d8249e32c6
With more and more people returning to their villages post- #lockdown, competition for farm work has increased, pulling the wages down considerably. This affected the women most.
When I probed the abysmal female labour rate participation in India, I found that the privileged ones would rather not pick up paid jobs because of the ever widening gender pay gap. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rakshakumar/2020/09/18/why-indian-women-dont-pursue-paid-employment/#8383e437fb04
Women benefit from positive discrimination, especially at the workplace, but lawmakers need to ensure there are no unintended negative consequences. Unfortunately, well-meaning laws in India have not helped its women. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rakshakumar/2020/09/27/indian-women-suffer-gender-discrimination-due-to-well-meaning-laws/#5489d61b33d8
Here's @Nemo911's post on #LinkedIn on the issue.
Thanks to @peegeekay for pointing me to her post. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/women-workforce-participation-swiss-knife-solving-nations-chahal/?articleId=6676040354690682880
Thanks to @peegeekay for pointing me to her post. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/women-workforce-participation-swiss-knife-solving-nations-chahal/?articleId=6676040354690682880
A recent paper by @aditiratho of @orfonline is also a very useful resource for those who want to engage more on the issue. https://www.orfonline.org/research/promoting-female-participation-in-urban-indias-labour-force-63693/
In addition, @BansariKamdar's piece for @TheDiplomatMag gives an overview of the recent challenges. https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/women-left-behind-indias-falling-female-labor-participation/
All the four stories I did for @Forbes on women's employment in India can be found here [one more in edit]. CC: @VibhutiJPatel, @ramreddy, @MrinalPande1 @Laadli_PF
https://www.forbes.com/search/?q=raksha%20kumar#61a15e13279f
https://www.forbes.com/search/?q=raksha%20kumar#61a15e13279f
