India’s female labour force participation rose from 23.3 percent in 2017-18 to 41.7 percent in 2023-24 per PLFS data, but most additions are in unpaid family labour and agriculture. Examine why a rise in counting has not become a rise in opportunity.
Subtopic: Social Justice · Human Resources
How to structure your answer
Introduction: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2023-24 (released 23 September 2024) shows female labour-force participation jumping from 23.3 percent (2017-18) to 41.7 percent — an 18-point rise.
Body: Three dimensions — (i) Composition: women classified as 'helpers in household enterprises' more than doubled from 9.1 percent to 19.6 percent, and rural women's engagement in agriculture rose from 71.1 percent (2018-19) to 76.9 percent (2023-24); (ii) Pay gap: self-employed men earn about 2.8 times what self-employed women earn; regular salaried women earn 76 percent of male pay; (iii) Unpaid burden: NSO Time Use Survey 2024 — women spend 289 minutes/day on unpaid domestic work against men's 88 minutes.
Way forward / Conclusion: Public investment in the care economy (creches, eldercare, school meals) per the ILO 5R framework; enforce Code on Wages 2019 equal-pay clause; and operationalise Section 67 of Code on Social Security 2020 for women platform workers.
Written within the word limit
132 words · target 150 words · 9 min
Introduction: The PLFS 2023-24 (released 23 September 2024) records female labour-force participation rising from 23.3 percent (2017-18) to 41.7 percent — an 18-point jump — yet the gain reflects unpaid family labour rather than opportunity under Article 39(d).
Body: Three dimensions explain the disconnect. First, composition — women classified as 'helpers in household enterprises' doubled from 9.1 to 19.6 percent, and rural women's engagement in agriculture rose from 71.1 to 76.9 percent, indicating distress absorption. Second, the pay gap — self-employed men earn 2.8 times what women earn; salaried women earn 76 percent of male pay despite Code on Wages 2019. Third, the unpaid burden — NSO Time Use Survey 2024 records women spending 289 minutes daily on unpaid domestic work against men's 88 minutes.
Conclusion: Public investment in the care economy per the ILO 5R framework, enforce Code on Wages equal-pay clause, and operationalise Section 67 of Code on Social Security 2020.
What an examiner expects to see
- PLFS 2023-24 — female LFPR 41.7 percent vs 23.3 percent in 2017-18
- 'Helpers in household enterprises' share doubled from 9.1 to 19.6 percent
- Rural women in agriculture — 71.1 percent (2018-19) to 76.9 percent (2023-24)
- Time Use Survey 2024 — 289 minutes/day unpaid domestic work for women vs 88 for men
- Self-employed women earn about 36 percent of self-employed men; regular salaried women 76 percent
- Code on Wages 2019 — Section 3 prohibits gender discrimination in pay
- Care economy estimated at $300 billion opportunity, 60 million potential jobs by 2030 (Primus Partners)
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- PLFS Annual Report 2023-24
- Time Use Survey 2024 (NSO)
- Code on Wages 2019
- Code on Social Security 2020 — Section 67 for women
- Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017
- Palna creche scheme under Mission Shakti