The government has begun work on a comprehensive policy to increase the participation of women in the workforce over the next five years to at least 30%, in line with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s poll promise.
Under consideration are tax incentives for companies that employ women above a threshold, implementation of existing legislation in the informal sector and liberal policies to enable women to return to work, among others.
Besides, the government will seek to ensure a minimum set of gender-sensitive provisions such as access to privacy, minimum wages and maternity benefits as well as leave and grievance redressal for female workers in the informal sector.
The idea is being internally deliberated and the policy could follow soon considering it is one of the priorities of the government, said a senior government official aware of the discussions.
Source: Economic Times
