Women's role in labour force declining due to education, migration: Govt

Survey in 2017-18 shows women formed 23.3 per cent of labour force compared to 42.7 per cent in 2004-05.

The government has told Parliament surveys over the years depict “a declining female labour force participation rate”, attributing the trend to factors like women getting educated or migrating.

Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, in a written reply to question from Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lok Sabha member Rita Bahuguna Joshi, said on Monday the government has taken several initiatives to improve women’s participation in the labour force. The steps include setting up child care centres, time-off for feeding children and enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.

Gangwar said that according to the results of the Periodic