India is making collective efforts to reduce the gender gap in labour force participation, stated Union Minister for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar.
He added new code on Wages, 2019 shall reduce gender-based discrimination in wages, recruitment and conditions of employment.
Gangwar, who was speaking at a ministerial address on Declaration and Employment Working Group Priorities at G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting, stated the country is ensuring education, training, skilling, entrepreneurship development and equal pay for equal work.
He added women are entitled for all types of work in all establishments. Employers have to ensure their safety and provisions for working hours. Women can now work even during night hours, he stated while talking about India.
Gangwar stated collateral free loans have been disbursed under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana scheme. There have been around 70 per cent accounts of women in this scheme.
The minister added that the new Code on Social Security may now include even self-employed and all other classes of workforce into the folds of social security coverage. “A voluntary and contributory pension scheme introduced in 2019 for the unorganised sector workers provides for minimum assured pension after the age of 60 years.”
In recent years, almost all G20 countries made progress in terms of equal opportunities, participation of women in the labour market and reduction of the gender pay gap.
The process of reducing gender inequalities has slowed down due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy. The measures implemented by G20 countries helped to mitigate the employment and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
