Ministry of Labour & Employment
Secretary (Labour & Employment) Participates in
Round Table Discussion on Improving Female
Workforce Participation in India
India has witnessed a positive trend in female
workforce participation over the past six years: Smt.
Dawra
Posted On: 05 MAR 2025 11:12AM by PIB Delhi
The Round Table Discussion on Improving Female Workforce Participation in India, led by the Secretary,
Ministry of Labour & Employment, and the Director, LBSNAA, were held in the Lal Bahadur Shastri
National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie on 3rd and 4th of March 2025. This event marks
a significant step toward realizing the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of 70% female workforce participation.
With India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) at 41.7% (PLFS 2023-24), this platform
brought together government policymakers, industry leaders, global organizations, and skilling institutions to
address key challenges and barriers, including employment barriers, workplace safety, pay parity, and digital
job opportunities. The two-day deliberations focused on shaping policy reforms and industry-driven solutions
that will unlock India's full workforce potential, ensuring safe, inclusive, and equitable workplaces that drive
sustained economic growth.
Smt. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, emphasized the
crucial role of this Round Table in shaping effective workforce policies. “Focused discussions on identifying
systemic barriers and policy gaps are crucial for formulating innovative solutions that align with India’s
broader economic and social development goals, ensuring sustainable and equitable workforce participation
for women,” she stated. She highlighted how India has witnessed a positive trend in female workforce
participation over the past six years, with higher economic engagement, declining unemployment, and more
educated women entering the workforce. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for women aged 15 years and
above has risen from 22.0% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24, while the Labour Force Participation Rate
(LFPR) for women has increased from 23.3% to 41.7% in the same period, she mentioned. Notably, female
unemployment has dropped significantly from 5.6% to just 3.2%, reflecting a shift toward greater inclusion
and economic empowerment, she added.
The Round Table focused on four key themes: Care Ecosystem, Future of Jobs & Skilling, Safe & Equitable
Workplaces, and AI & Digital Interventions. The Ministry of Labour and Employment identified key action
areas critical to enhancing women’s workforce participation under its mandate. Expanding affordable and
quality care services was recognized as a labour market enabler, emphasizing the need to integrate care
policies into employment frameworks to support working women. The alignment of skilling initiatives with
industry demand was highlighted as essential to ensuring women’s access to high-growth sectors, reinforcing
the Ministry’s role in facilitating demand-driven skilling and employment linkages. Strengthening workplace
safety, equitable policies, and gender-sensitive labour laws emerged as a priority, underscoring the need for
compliance mechanisms, gender audits, and enforcement of PoSH regulations. Finally, as India advances in
AI and digital transformation, Government is focused on leveraging digital employment platforms, enhancing
women’s digital literacy, and integrating AI-driven skilling programs to ensure women’s equitable
participation in the future of work.
The Round Table Discussions concluded with clear, actionable recommendations aimed at accelerating
women’s workforce inclusion. Participants outlined policy reforms, industry-driven initiatives, and
institutional mechanisms to break barriers and build a safe, skilled, and inclusive workforce. Secretary,
Ministry of Labour & Employment, Sumita Dawra, reaffirmed that this is not a one-time discussion but the
beginning of a sustained effort, with a task force ensuring continued collaboration and implementation. The
Joint Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment, Sh. Ajoy Sharma extended his gratitude to all
participants and LBSNAA for facilitating this critical dialogue, reiterating the ministry’s commitment to
translating these deliberations into measurable progress for women’s workforce inclusion.
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Himanshu Pathak
(Release ID: 2108281)
