Women Workplace

Even as the political blame game over the delay in implementing one-third quota for women in the legislature continues, experts and policymakers rue another glass ceiling that remains unbroken -- the abysmally low proportion of women employees in government-run enterprises. The latest available government data shows that women constitute less than 10 per cent of the workforce in central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), and not even one in 10 manage to reach a supervisory role. While still a far cry from adequate representation, in the private sector, nearly one-fourth of women hold managerial positions. Their proportion goes up to about one-third when it comes to entry-level roles, as per various surveys. Overall, the female LFPR (Labour Force Participation Rate) in the country stands at little over 34 per cent, though it has fallen from 40 per cent at the end of financial year 2024-25, according to the government data. The latest Public Enterprises Survey showed that women ...

Today's opinions examine skilled overseas migration, workplace child care, India's youth employment challenge, AI governance in finance and a civilian account of war-torn Beirut

A larger number of women are participating in economic activities, but the quality of employment remains a concern

A study by Quest Global highlights the workplace and career impact of pregnancy loss and calls for structured employer support to improve retention and inclusion

More women and freshers among the country's blue- and grey-collar workforce are moving beyond their hometowns for better jobs and higher pay, driving a 31.4 per cent year-on-year rise in job-related migration during January-April 2026, according to a report. A report by blue and grey-collar recruitment platform WorkIndia points to a defining moment in India's labour story, more women, more freshers, and more workers from across the country's blue and grey-collar workforce are looking beyond their home cities for better jobs, better wages, and better futures. The data shows 8.6 million job applications for cities other than applicants' own between January and April 2026, up from 6.5 million in the same period a year ago - a 31.4 per cent year-on-year increase. This far outpaces the 20.2 per cent growth in same-city applications, meaning the cross-city worker pool is now expanding more than 1.5 times faster than the local one, the report revealed. As a result, nearly 1 in 4 workers o

Workplace challenges often begin subtly: Inappropriate remarks dismissed as humour or exclusion from informal networks

Women remain concentrated in unpaid helper roles and self-employment, with limited access to regular salaried jobs, mainly in rural areas

Recent controversies show companies struggle to embed acceptable conduct into culture

The Supreme Court warned that making menstrual leave mandatory could hurt women's career prospects, and asked the Centre to consider the petitioner's request for a policy after consulting stakeholders

Snabbit has launched Kavach, a platform-embedded safety system that proactively monitors risk and triggers escalation during home-service jobs, strengthening protection for women workers

This year, the International Women's Day 2026 theme is 'Give to Gain'. The IWD's theme promotes cooperation and a giving collaboration to help women and girls advancement

The Economic Survey says rising female workforce participation must be backed by safer mobility, care infrastructure and flexible work to unlock women-led growth and shared domestic responsibilities

Study finds women earn up to 30% less than men and hold 17% of executive roles

Noting that only Madhya Pradesh and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu had reported creche facilities on the central portal for women construction workers, a Parliamentary committee has recommended that the Ministry of Labour explore the feasibility of involving NGOs for opening creches for women. In a report titled Safety and protection of women in unorganised sector' tabled in Parliament, the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women, chaired by BJP MP D Purandeswari, also recommended extending the operating hours of the creches to match women's work schedules (8 hours), ensuring childcare aligns with employment needs. It also recommended a mandate of a fixed percentage of CSR funds for childcare and maternity support in the informal sector. According to the report, The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, mandates comprehensive welfare measures for women construction workers. Th

The NARI 2025 report by NCW shows Kohima, Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar as safest cities for women, while Delhi, Patna and Jaipur ranked least safe with national score at 65%

This exhortation stems from a realisation that, at around 33 per cent (World Bank, 2024), India's female labour force participation (LFPR) ranks low globally

A new IIT-Bombay study reveals that women with PCOS experience slower reaction times and reduced attention span, highlighting that the condition impacts women beyond hormones and periods

Gender gaps persist in India, Nigeria, Kenya as women face barriers from entry-level to leadership, with sharp drop-offs in managerial roles, shows McKinsey report

A recent survey from the United States found that two-thirds of mothers considered leaving the workforce in 2024 due to the stress and cost of child care

Women leaders across sectors reflect on why Women's Day 2025 matters, and how it impacts their lives. We spoke to influential leaders breaking barriers in their own sectors on what makes it special