Modi: Attract women to work

INDIA can use flexible work places in order to encourage a higher number of women into work, prime minister Narendra Modi said last Thursday (25), as the country looks to improve its female labour force participation.

“The need of the future is flexi work hours. We can use systems like flexible work places as opportunities for female labour force participation,” Modi told a meeting of state labour ministers last week.

India’s female work participation rate was around 25 per cent for 2021, according to government data, among the lowest for emerging economies.

“India can achieve its goals faster if we make use of our women power,” Modi said.

Most Indian working women are in low-skilled jobs, such as farm and factory labour and domestic help, sectors that were hit hard by the pandemic.

Modi said the country’s success in the 21st century would depend on how well it utilised its demographic dividend.

“We can create a high-quality skilled workforce and take advantage of global opportunities,” he said.