Women Employment

Foxconn, Apple's largest iPhone vendor in India, is nearing completion of a hostel facility with 18,720 units in Chennai

Indians represent the second-largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and "welcoming conditions" for women are increasing the kingdom's appeal for Indian women seeking meaningful employment here, according to the country's human resources and social development ministry. Official figures show that as of 2024, over 2.4 million Indian workers reside in the kingdom, with 1.64 million in the private sector and 785,000 in domestic work. Bangladesh has the highest number of expat workers at 2.69 million. A spokesperson in the ministry said Indian workers, including women, play a vital role in Saudi Arabia's labour market, comprising a substantial portion of the expatriate workforce. "Comprehensive reforms, expanded workplace support, and investments in skills development create welcoming conditions for women from diverse backgrounds," the spokesperson said. "Improved infrastructure, including women-only transportation and childcare support, further enhances the appeal for Indian wome

Marriage penalty: Social norms often push Indian women to prioritise family, leading them to leave the workforce or choose lower-paying, less demanding jobs

A significant number of women-owned micro businesses in India lack savings for financial emergencies, making them highly vulnerable to economic shocks, said a report. The report titled 'Decoding the Financial Health of Women-Owned Micro-Businesses (wMB) in India' was prepared by MicroSave Consulting (MSC) in collaboration with Sa-Dhan and supported by JPMorgan Chase. The research covers six regions - Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu - providing data-driven insights and calls for targeted interventions. Data was collected through 1,460 computer-assisted personal interviews, key informant interviews with financial institutions and enterprise support organisations, and comprehensive desk research. Interviews with 150 women-owned micro businesses across the six regions revealed insights into their financial decision-making processes, challenges and motivations. The report indicated that 45 per cent of women entrepreneurs lack savings for financial

The report said that in all South Asian countries, output gains from closing the gender gap in labour force participation would be driven by the manufacturing sector, followed by the services sector

The agency responsible for securing the country's land and air border crossings is settling a case that alleged the agency discriminated against pregnant employees, lawyers for the employees have said. In a news release on Tuesday, lawyers for Customs and Border Protection employees said they had reached a $45 million settlement in the class action that includes nearly 1,100 women. The lawyers said the settlement also includes an agreement by the agency to enact reforms to address the discriminatory practices. The case was filed in 2016 with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that there was a widespread practice by CBP to place officers and agriculture specialists on light duty when they became pregnant. The agency did not give them the opportunity to stay in their position with or without accommodations, according to the complaint. This meant the women lost out on opportunities for overtime, Sunday or evening pay and for advancement, the complaint said. Anyone

New Budget schemes seek to improve market access, scaling of operations for women-related ventures

Union Budget 2024: Experts seek women-centric initiatives that harness their entrepreneurship potential by providing credit opportunities, improve financial literacy and foster skill development

Budget 2024: The Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 is scheduled to be presented in the Lok Sabha on July 23

Eight years ago, Yuriko Koike became the first woman to lead Tokyo, beating her male predecessor. She won her third term as governor on Sunday, and one of her closest rivals was a woman. Multiple women competing for a top political office is still rare in Japan, which has a terrible global gender-equality ranking, but Koike's win highlights a gradual rise in powerful female officials and a society more open to gender balance in politics. That said, even if a woman eventually becomes prime minister, politics here is still overwhelmingly dominated by men, and experts see a huge effort needed for equal representation. There are growing expectations for women to play a greater role in politics, said parliamentarian Chinami Nishimura, a senior official with the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. In politics or parliament, which are still largely considered men's work, it is extremely meaningful for women to show their presence and have our voices heard. Nishimura,

Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons why Foxconn did not hire married women at the plant

Apple iPhone maker Foxconn has informed the government that 25 per cent of its new hires are married women and its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal irrespective of gender or religion, is not discriminatory, sources said. In an informal note shared with the government after reports suggested it is not hiring married women, Foxconn stated that such stipulations are not part of its policy and these claims may have been made by those individuals who were not hired, sources said. They added that such media reports malign the fast-growing Indian manufacturing sector. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday has sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu labour department on the issue of married women not being allowed to work at the Foxconn India Apple iPhone Plant, as reported by the media. "Foxconn had clarified that 25 per cent of the latest hires are married women. This would mean nearly one-third of the total women are marri

India's women executive directors on average paid nearly 40% less than men in the same role

The DGCA said that the airports and airlines should periodically review the existing HR policies to remove any gender biases and to promote a positive work environment for women

With the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, a bill that aimed to bring uniformity in the age of marriage for men and women has lapsed. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2021 and was referred to the standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. The standing committee received multiple extensions over a period of time. Citing provisions of law and Constitution, former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and Constitution expert P D T Acharya told PTI that with the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, "the bill has now lapsed". The bill aimed to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 to increase the minimum age of marriage of females to 21 years. Further, the Bill would have overridden any other law, custom, or practice. Under the 2006 Act, a person married below the minimum age may apply for annulment within two years of attaining majority (i.e., before 20 years of age). The Bill increases thi

The number of female consultants in India registering for freelance positions has surged by over 300 per cent in FY24 over FY22

The lack of progression of women to the most senior roles in financial and professional services is a major factor contributing to the gender pay gap

Indian economy poses structural constraints

Only 8% of CEO positions at the largest listed companies in the EU28 in 2023 were women

There has been a significant increase in demand for women apprentices in the manufacturing sector, as factories are increasingly adopting gender-agnostic recruitment practices, a sharp departure from traditional hiring norms and underscore the industry's commitment to fostering inclusive work environments. According to staffing company TeamLease, in the past 8-10 months, there has been a remarkable five-fold surge in demand for young women who have completed class 10/12 to be appointed as apprentices, reflecting a shifting landscape in India's workforce dynamics. The surge in demand for women apprentices is primarily driven by the booming sectors of auto, Electric Vehicle (EV), electronics, and phone manufacturing. "This surge is anticipated to lead to a significant increase in the representation of women apprentices, reaching up to 40 per cent by the end of the year," said Sumit Kumar, Chief strategy officer at TeamLease Degree apprenticeship. Kumar stressed on integrating an ...