Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340 Volume 6, Number 6 (2019), 1-9
© Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
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Female Workers and their Socio-Economic Profile: A Study of Unorganized Sector in India

Neetu Antil and Rekha Rathee
Assistant Professor & MA Student
Navyug College for Education, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Email: neetuchhikara11@gmail.com

Abstract

Indian constitution assures equality of opportunity in all aspects of life including employment and guides the states to secure equal rights for livelihood, equal pay for equal work as well as healthy conditions of work for all. In spite of the rigorous efforts of the states, the economic status of women is lagging far behind than their male counterparts. Women work in the most difficult way, they earn the least in life. The additional social responsibilities shouldered by them, their subordinate status in society, male dominated family set up , socioeconomic backwardness, proneness for occupation in the unorganized sector with low productivity and marginalization in employment opportunities account for their poor or low earning capacity.
There are number of families where either earnings of males are not sufficient to support the family or there are no male partners present to earn. In both the circumstances, the female partners are forced to become bread earners for the family. In such cases, the female workers have dual responsibilities. On one hand, they have responsibility to look after their families and at the same time they are forced to go out to earn money to support. The education level in backward area is very low especially the education level of females is even worst. Since childhood, they need to provide support in household work or forced to become labourers, they do not get chance to education. They fail to get better jobs because of absence of basic education. On top of that, there is no formal training available for these female workers to enable them to do reputed jobs. The situation is little better in urban areas but the rural areas are the worst affected. There are less job opportunities in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Lack of basic infrastructure (Such as electricity, water, roads, transport facilities), is either unavailable or not adequate enough to attract the decent sized industries.
The social and economic profile of female workers is greatly affected by the nature of industrial sector where they work. Inadequate facilities, stressful, unhygienic and unsafe working environment affect their social life. At the same time, uncertainty in employment puts their economic status in difficult situation.
Keywords: Formal and Informal Sector, Gross Domestic Product, Wage Discrimination.

Introduction

Women constitute the largest segment of India’s unorganized workforce. They are from the poorest rural households and very often from scheduled, backward or tribal castes.
George (1990) found that in case of women beedi workers, women were associated with their homes and were expected to look after domestic chores and their typical roles were those of housewives and mothers. Lack of education, ignorance and poverty compelled the women from this class to accept whatever unskilled job was available or whatever wage the employer wished to pay

Wages and Earnings Kothari (1997) observed that in case of domestic workers, the remuneration paid to the women workers sometimes included the labour of daughters, so young girls worked as a component of their mother’s wage. Tasks of women workers were often divided between mother and daughter with increasing responsibilities being placed on the daughter. They were both clothed and fed, but the daughter never received a cash payment.
Working Conditions
The working conditions are of particular importance to the women workers. Women workers get the work through middlemen or agents who pay them at times as little as Rs 10 a day. Women who work on worksites like construction work or brick kilns face problems of childcare, have no toilet or drinking water facilities. Women face lack of sanitation facilities and crèches at the workplace.
Social Security Provisions for Women Workers
Women workers in the unorganized sector have little or no social security. Absence of protection against occupational and health hazards is creating vulnerable situations for women workers in the unorganized sector.
Unorganized workers in India face three major threats to human security: poor health, shrinking livelihoods and muted voice.
Many laws have been provided to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for the female workers. Despite these laws, health and health services remain disheartening.
The Unorganized Sector and Female Workers
A large part of the industrial sector in India is unorganized. An industrial sector consisting of all private enterprises owned by individuals or households engaged in the sale or production of goods and services operated on a proprietary or partnership basis and with less than ten total workers, is called an unorganized sector. This sector has a smaller scale of operation with local ownership. These operate using lower technology based methods and insufficient storage facilities. The legal status of such sector is uncertain and do not have adequate access to government schemes for finance and aid. Usually the brand name is non-existent and the products coming from such sector has flexible pricing and less sophisticated packing. The employees can easily enter without any specific qualification. Majority of the employees are the migrants but they get a lower rate of compensation. They have lower job security and poorer chances of growth, with no leaves and paid holidays. They have lower protection against employers indulging in unfair or illegal practices.
Problems of Women workers
Despite women being large population contributing in Indian industries, the life of women workers is very challenging. The main problems faced by women workers are as follows:
Lack of Education
Illiteracy is the biggest problem because they do not get time to educate themselves. In childhood, they have to start working early which do not allow them to go to school.
Insufficient Skills and Knowledge
Majority of women workers do not have proper training and skills aligned to their tasks. This results in excessive stress and inefficiency.
Extreme Work Pressure
Females are overworked, they work twice as many hours as worked by their male counterparts. In agriculture sector, the condition is the worst. When measured in terms of number of tasks performed and the total time spent, it is greater than men.
Irregular Wage Payment
There is lack of controlled processes in unorganized sector which results in to untimely payment of wages to the workers. When it comes to payment to females, it is even worst.
Wage Discrimination
Females do not get similar payment as compared to males for same tasks.
Seasonal Employment
Many of the unorganized sector industries are seasonal. These industries include fruit processing, pickle making, agricultural sector, construction sector etc. They have to fetch another employment when there is no work during off season.
Physical Problems
The working conditions are not healthy. Work place is not ergonomically designed. This results into workers facing fatigue resulting in physical problems. Female workers are mostly on such tasks where they need to remain in one position such as agriculture. This results into severe problems such as backache and knee-ach.
Insufficient Employment Benefits
Benefits such as structured leaves, medical facilities, provident fund, compensatory off, insurance, pension etc. are completely absent from unorganized sector.
Exploitation of the Female Labour
Female workers are more vulnerable to exploitation by employers. They can be easily threatened of their jobs.
Insecure job
Absence of strong legislation controlling the unorganized sector makes the job highly insecure in this sector.
Non Sympathetic Attitude of Employer
Temporary nature of employment in this sector does not allow the bond between the employee and employer to establish and become strong.
Unorganized Sector and Law
In India, many laws have been introduced to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for the female workers – the Trade Union Act (1926), the Minimum Wages Act (1948), the Maternity Benefits Act (1961), etc. Most recently passed act is the unorganized workers social security act of 2008, which provides benefits to workers registered with the district administration, including some health insurance and maternity benefits. The government has taken special measures to protect the workers in unorganized sector.
The factories Act, The Doc Workers act and The Mines Act are the regulations with the provisions to regulate the health of the workers in industrial sector. The Employees State Insurance Act and The Workmen’s Compensation Act provide health and compensation to the workers in cases of ill-health and injuries, accidents etc. But in the unorganized sector where the majority of female workers are concentrated, no occupational safety and health safeguards are in place. Usually the safety devices are designed keeping the male workers in view and become unsuitable for women workers. Besides, the social aspects of work are not considered risk factors. As a result, more emphasis is given to work related accidents than to illnesses.
Conclusion
The unorganized sector is larger in rural areas as compared to urban areas. The female participation in this sector is more than males. Women workers face grave problems. Their condition is highly unpredictable and have constraints related to their work such as insecurity, wage discrimination, absence of medical and accidental care and lack of continuity etc. This is high time to address the issues and discuss the need of policy reforms and institutional changes required at national level. The aim should be women empowerment.
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