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Gig economy to boost employment of Indian women in formal sector
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SME Times News Bureau | 23 Jul, 2021
The rise of the gig economy in the wake of Covid-19 has the potential to
boost women's employment in the formal sector, according to a report by
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The adoption of
new technologies could create better opportunities for women, however,
re-skilling will be crucial to expand opportunities for women in the
formal sector, according to the study titled 'The Future of Work for
Women in the Formal Sector in India'.
The study conducted through
a survey and direct interactions with over 150 Chief Executive Officers
(CEOs) and Chief Experience Officers (CXOs) from the manufacturing and
service sectors underscores the fast-changing work environment, where
technology will change the world of work, with the potential to expand
opportunities for women working in the formal sector.
The survey
responses indicate that the loss of jobs for women in the formal sector
during the Covid-19 pandemic could be temporary in nature, and women
could gradually get back into the workforce.
Around 57 per cent
of the respondent firms agree that the gig economy will itself expand
and boost women's employment because it is based on flexible, temporary,
or freelance jobs, often involving connecting with clients or customers
through an online platform.
This underscores that alternative
work arrangements in the gig economy have the potential to absorb more
women and increase their participation in the workforce.
A boost
in the use of digital technology and increased acceptance of virtual
working for sales and distribution jobs, could open opportunities for
women to enter fields where interactions are managed through apps and
phone calls, states the study.
"The study on The Future of Work
for Women in the Formal Sector in India indeed gives hope for a better
future with more employment opportunities for women. However, concerted
efforts are needed to understand how new technologies are impacting
specific industries and to address challenges facing women in entering
or remaining in the workplace", stated Nadia Rasheed, UNDP Deputy
Resident Representative in India, at the formal launch event of the
study.
The survey also reflects that some key sectors that are
likely to see an increase in women's employment are health and
pharmaceuticals (by 59 per cent), electrical and electronics (by 44 per
cent), and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (perishable goods) industry (by 41
per cent). At the same time, women's employment in the finance and
accounting divisions may moderately change due to the adoption of new
technology.
"We are glad that we received a very positive
response from the industry. We are thankful that over 150 CXOs from over
30 sectors took out time and shared their genuine feedback and comments
for this study. Also, we are keen to take this work ahead and create a
clear road map of a successful career for future-ready women workforce
in India", stated Dilip Chenoy, Secretary-General of FICCI, India.
Around
73 per cent of the respondent firms agree that re-skilling,
specifically in the formal sector, is likely to play a crucial part in
shaping the work of tomorrow. 83 per cent of those who agreed to the
skilling proposition also indicate that re-skilling will be crucial to
absorb more women into the world of work in India.
To safeguard
the interest of both employers and employees, some labour laws and
regulations are required in the changing world of work, states the new
study. Also, documenting best practices across the globe on how
different industries are using new technologies and at the same time
creating job opportunities for women would help create supportive
policies.
The survey findings state that work from home (WFH) or
remote working will be the 'new normal' with advanced technologies such
as digital information, artificial intelligence, robotisation, and
machine learning. The study associates a low level of technical skills
with increasing levels of adverse impact, with the caveat that the time
or pace of old jobs to be fully replaced by automation is uncertain,
which may create unemployment for some time in India.
Interestingly
the study also reveals that in high-skill and low-skill jobs, the
impact of technology is gender-neutral. It is the medium-skill jobs that
have gender differentials because they require a blend of cognitive
work and manual routine work, and gender can play a role here.
In
high-skill jobs, finding the right skill to do the job is the most
important criterion, and whether the candidate is a man or woman hardly
matters. In low-skill jobs in India, there is wage parity, and thus
employers may have an equal ratio of employees which reflects no gender
bias.
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