Context: United Nations Global Compact(UNGC) has released a study on women’s participation in India’s labour force.

• The Study says that if women labour participation has been the same as that of men, the GDP of the country shall be boosted by 27%.Globally 38.7% of employed women are working in forestry, agriculture and fisheries. However, only 13.85 of them are landholders.
• India is the only country among the 153 surveyed countries where the economic gender gap is larger than the political gap.
• Female labour-force participation in India has declined from 34% in 2006 to 24.8% in 2020.
• Raising women’s participation in the labour force to the same level as men can boost India’s GDP by 27%.
• The study suggests that corporate policies and public policies in India should ensure effective solutions. They should adapt life changes with their employees including dual career couples, maternity and changing care needs.

About UNGC:

• The United Nations Global Compact is a non-binding United Nations pact formed in 2000.
• It aims to encourage companies worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies based on 10 principles categorised into human rights, anti-corruption, environment and labour.