WOMEN'S URBAN EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE PROGRAM

SYLLABUS

GS 2 > Government policies and intervention

REFERENCE NEWS

The unemployment rate in urban areas is higher than in rural areas, indicating a high unmet demand for employment among urban women. Thus, there is a proposal for a national Women’s Urban Employment Guarantee Act (WUEGA) to address the challenges of urban unemployment among women in India.

ABOUT THE PROPOSED WOMEN'S URBAN EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE PROGRAM 

• About: The Women’s Urban Employment Guarantee Act (WUEGA) is a proposed legislation aimed at guaranteeing employment opportunities specifically for urban women.
• Objective: WUEGA will aim to bridge the gap in employment opportunities between men and women in cities. By providing a safety net and income security, WUEGA will seek to empower women and encourage their participation in the urban workforce.

NECESSITY OF WUEGA

• The Untapped Potential of Urban Women in the Workforce:
• Despite urban settings offering a plethora of opportunities, there exists a stark contrast in employment rates between genders.
• Recent data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reveal a grim picture, with merely 22.9% of urban women engaged in employment as of the last quarter of 2023. 
• A staggering figure of approximately 10.18 crore women, within the productive age range of 15-59, remains sidelined from the urban workforce.
• This underutilization of female labor underscores the urgent need for targeted employment schemes, which current urban employment initiatives fail to adequately address.
• Catalysing Sustainable Development through Female Workforce Inclusion:
•  Integrating urban women into the workforce is not just a matter of social justice but a crucial lever for sustainable development.
• The enactment of the Women's Urban Employment Guarantee Act (WUEGA) would mark a significant stride towards gender equality and economic empowerment, aligning with the global sustainable development goals.
• By guaranteeing a minimum quota of workdays, WUEGA would ensure that women can contribute meaningfully to their families and societies, thereby bolstering economic resilience and inclusive growth.
• Innovative Solutions for Childcare and Support Infrastructure:
• One of the paramount barriers to female labor participation in urban settings is the lack of supportive infrastructure, compounded by social norms, safety concerns, and inadequate access to transportation.
• WUEGA addresses this gap by advocating for childcare facilities at work sites, thereby enabling women to balance employment with caregiving responsibilities.
• This approach not only facilitates greater workforce participation but also acknowledges and values the dual role many women play.
• Lessons from Rural Success Stories:
• The design and implementation of WUEGA draw inspiration from the successes of rural employment schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
• Adapting the principles that underpinned MGNREGA's effectiveness to the urban context, WUEGA proposes a tailored model that caters to the unique challenges and opportunities of urban employment for women.
• This strategic borrowing from proven rural models underscores the potential for cross-contextual learning and adaptation.
• Unlocking Economic Growth by Fostering Women's Employment:
• Beyond addressing gender disparities, the active engagement of women in the urban workforce is pivotal for economic development.
• The inclusion of urban women in employment endeavors can significantly expand the labor force, enhance productivity, and stimulate economic growth.
• The WUEGA stands not merely as a policy for gender equity but as a strategic investment in the nation's economic future, leveraging the untapped potential of half its population for comprehensive development.
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CHALLENGES OF WUEGA

• Economic Implications and Budgetary Commitments:
• The introduction of WUEGA presents a formidable economic challenge, primarily due to the substantial investment required for wages, infrastructure enhancement, including the establishment of childcare facilities at workplaces, and the overarching administrative costs.
• The proposition of providing 150 workdays annually at a daily wage of ?500 underscores a hefty financial commitment, projected to consume about 1.5% of the nation's GDP. This financial undertaking highlights the need for strategic fiscal planning and efficient resource allocation to sustain the program.
• Local Job Creation versus Urban Constraints: 
• A pivotal obstacle for WUEGA is the creation of sufficient and varied employment opportunities within proximity to women's residences, ideally not exceeding a 5 km radius.
• This challenge is particularly accentuated in densely populated urban areas, where space and resources are limited.
• Tailoring employment opportunities to align with local demands and infrastructural capacities is crucial, albeit complex, necessitating innovative approaches to urban job creation.
• Enhancing Safety to Encourage Workforce Participation:
• The safety of women in urban environments remains a critical concern, especially concerning their commutes.
• The persisting fear of harassment and violence, underscored by a rate of 66.4 crimes against women per lakh population and a charge sheeting rate of 75.8 as reported in the "Crime in India 2022" by the NCRB, potentially deters women from engaging in employment opportunities.
• Addressing these safety concerns through enhanced security measures and sensitization initiatives is essential to ensure women's active and uninhibited participation in the workforce.
• Bridging the Skill Divide: 
• The skill gap among urban women poses a significant barrier to their entry into formal employment sectors.
• Limited access to quality education and vocational training exacerbates this divide, hindering women's ability to secure gainful employment.
• Efforts to bridge this gap through targeted educational and skill development programs are critical for enhancing women's employability and ensuring their successful integration into the workforce.
• Capacity Building for Female Leadership in Program Management: 
• Achieving a minimum representation of 50% women in the management of WUEGA presents a challenge in the initial stages.
• Building the necessary capacity to foster a strong female leadership and management cadre requires dedicated initiatives aimed at empowering women with the skills and confidence needed to lead and execute the program effectively.
• Overcoming Legal and Systemic Hurdles:
• The implementation of WUEGA necessitates navigating through legal and bureaucratic hurdles, including streamlining processes for registration, job allocation, grievance redressal, and program monitoring.
• Resistance from entities favouring the status quo may further complicate legislative efforts aimed at advancing women's employment rights, necessitating concerted efforts to overcome opposition and streamline program execution.
• Counteracting Societal Norms and Stereotypes:
• The prevailing societal norms and gender stereotypes in urban areas pose substantial resistance to changing the status of women's workforce participation.
• Stereotypes casting women primarily in caregiving and homemaking roles may discourage their entry into formal employment sectors.
• Challenging and changing these deep-rooted perceptions is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and equitable employment landscape under WUEGA, promoting broader acceptance of women's significant contributions to the urban economy.

WAY FORWARD

• Leverage Gender Data for Informed Legislation: Utilize detailed gender-disaggregated data to craft WUEGA, ensuring it addresses specific urban employment challenges for women, mandates equal pay, and considers their job preferences and constraints.
• Ensure Resources and Capacity Building: Allocate necessary funds for WUEGA’s operations and infrastructure, while providing training to stakeholders, ensuring readiness for effective program implementation.
• Pilot and Expand Gradually: Start with pilot areas to test WUEGA’s viability, then expand methodically, focusing on regions with adequate infrastructure to facilitate broader implementation.
• Enhance Safety and Support Entrepreneurship: Implement safety improvements in urban areas and offer support to women entrepreneurs, creating a safer and more empowering environment for women’s workforce participation.
• Forge Partnerships and Change Perceptions: Collaborate with various organizations to bolster WUEGA and conduct awareness campaigns to shift societal attitudes, promoting gender equality in the workforce.

The Indian Constitution champions the ideals of equality and social justice, necessitating affirmative measures to address gender imbalances in the workforce. The introduction of WUEGA aligns with these constitutional directives and moral responsibilities, aiming to advance gender equality and empowerment.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q: Examine the necessity and potential obstacles in enacting the Women’s Urban Employment Guarantee Act in India. Propose strategies for achieving effective economic empowerment for women in the country.(15M, 250W)