Women Workplace

Parliament panel urges labour ministry to set up women's creches with NGOs

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

40% women feel 'unsafe', only 1 in 3 report harassment: NARI 2025 Report

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%

Govt must fix demand side issues to grow women's participation in workforce

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

Beyond hormones: PCOS may impair brain function, says new IIT study

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

India's 'broken rung': What's holding women back on the corporate ladder?

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

Modern workplaces weren't designed for mothers, now is the time for change

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

Why Women's Day matters: Leaders across sectors reflect on its significance

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

Stress, stigma, and struggles: India's women battle a mental health crisis

One in two women report experiencing chronic stress due to work-life imbalance, financial pressures, and societal expectations, revealed a report exposing the mental health crisis facing Indian women

Women's Day 2025: Menstrual leave push redefines workplace priorities

A recent report has revealed that 44 per cent of women fear work-life imbalance, particularly those with 5-10 years of experience managing both professional and personal responsibilities

Best of BS Opinion: The many hats a government wears in citizens' lives

The undeniable thing is that government can shape the very nature of the nation, for better or for worse. From finances to health to labour to communication to awareness, it wields great power.

Women's workforce participation up, but social barriers need more action

The push in women employment has come more from the rural sector than the urban sector

Govt to hold workshops on making panchayats women-friendly on March 4-5

The government is set to hold workshops for women representatives from all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), focused on developing at least one model women-friendly gram panchayat in each district, an official said. Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, over 1,200 women panchayat leaders will attend the workshops on women-led local governance. The Panchayati Raj Ministry official said the workshops will be held on March 4-5. They are aimed at making PRIs more women-centric and strengthening grassroots democracy. The workshops will focus on the crucial role of women elected representatives (WERs) in rural local governance and discuss the strategic roadmap of the Panchayati Raj Ministry to enhance their leadership and ensure their active participation in decision-making. Outstanding women leaders in panchayats will be felicitated at the workshops. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has urged states and Union territories to include women officers in the delegati

Women occupy 19% of C-suite roles in India; gender bias persists: Study

One of the primary obstacles hindering women's progress to leadership positions is the challenge of work-life integration,, revealed a study conducted by Avtar, a workplace culture consulting firm

Only 7 mn women among 71 mn workers employed in Indian real estate: Report

Real estate remains one of the least inclusive sectors for women with only 70 lakh females among 7.1 crore workers employed in the Indian realty industry, according to a report. Realty firm Max Estates and In Tandem Global Consulting in a joint report 'Concrete change -- A Study of the Economic Impact of Better Pay Parity & Inclusion of Women in Real Estate' pointed out that the real estate sector has a long way to go in achieving inclusivity. "The Indian real estate sector stands at a crossroads. Poised for unprecedented growth, it remains burdened by challenges that prevent it from realising its complete potential. Women make up 48.5 per cent of India's population, out of which approximately 1.2 per cent female population is employed in real estate," the report said. Underrepresentation of women along with unequal pay across all levels of the workforce is one of the most pressing challenges the sector faces, it added. "Despite its role as a significant employment generator, the .

Chennai among top 3 cities for women's social, industrial inclusion: Study

Chennai has been recognised as one of the top three cities in India excelling in social and industrial inclusion for women, according to a recent study. As many as eight cities from Tamil Nadu have figured in the list with the capital city ranking second for being the most inclusive, safe and resilient and sustainable city for working women. As per the Top Cities for Women in India 2024 report by Avtar group, South India emerged as the most gender-inclusive region with 16 cities in the south featuring in the top 25. Bengaluru has surpassed Chennai to secure the top position as the best city in the country for working women in 2024, it said. Avtar Group Founder-President Saundarya Rajesh said Chennai came second for being the most inclusive, safe, resilient, sustainable city for working women and Tamil Nadu dominated the survey results with Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Vellore, Madurai, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur also being on the top of the list. "Cities are the foundations of ...

It's everyone's responsibility to keep workplaces women-friendly: NCW chief

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Friday said every place of work, whether government or private, must ensure a safe and secure environment for women and this is the responsibility of everyone. She was speaking at a review meeting held at the Latur collector's office with members and heads of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) formed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Rahatkar said that many women endure harassment at workplaces and hesitate to file complaints. But office heads and the colleagues of women must take proactive steps to instill confidence and create a safe workplace environment, she said. The ICCs must hold quarterly review meetings and ensure fair and timely resolution of complaints, Rahatkar said. "First of all, the places of work must be such that no incidents of sexual harassment take place," she said. Rahatkar also called for public awareness campaigns about th

Tata Steel starts all-women shift at Jharkhand's Noamundi iron mine

The shift will comprise women employees for all the mining activities of the shift, including heavy earth-moving machinery

Over 99,000 women employees in railways, including 2,037 loco pilots: Govt

As of March 31, 2024, 99,809 women employees were working in the Indian Railways, including 2,037 loco pilots, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday. Vaishnaw was responding to questions raised by BJP MP Doctor Manna Lal Rawat who wanted to know the details regarding women employees in the Indian Railways and those who are in train operation. Rawat also asked about the number of women working as loco pilots in train operation and the percentage of women loco pilots as compared to men. Vaishnaw in response said, Direct recruitment to various posts in the Indian Railways is done as per the laid down procedure. Irrespective of gender, all the candidates fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criteria are eligible for the recruitment. As on 31.03.2024, 99,809 women employees are working in Indian Railways which includes 2,037 loco pilots, the Railway Minister added.

Uber introduces new safety measures primarily focusing on female users

With these features, Uber aims to onboard more women drivers onto its platform, which currently comprises only 2 per cent of its driver base

Why marriage costs Indian women their jobs while boosting men's careers

Marriage penalty: Social norms often push Indian women to prioritise family, leading them to leave the workforce or choose lower-paying, less demanding jobs