In addition to meeting with officials in the Greater Chennai Corporation to develop the research design for the property tax project, I also met with representatives from the Government of Tamil Nadu Department of Labor during one of my visits to Chennai. It was valuable opportunity to learn more about trends in female labor force participation in Tamil Nadu and to hear about some of their policy initiatives to support women in the workforce in line with the New Policy for Women.
Although the female labor force participation rate in Tamil Nadu is much higher than the national average, it has been declining over time despite increases in educational attainment among women. For example, according to the National Family Health Survey (2019-21), 56.6% of women have completed 10 or more years of schooling, compared to 59.1% of men. To combat declining female labor, the Labor Department is attempting to identify the key challenges faced by female workers. Many women work in construction and the textiles/garment manufacturing sector where working conditions tend to be difficult. While the central government has passed several legislations over the years requiring employers to provide amenities such as separate toilets, creche facilities, breastfeeding facilities, adequate rest breaks etc., compliance is not always up to the mark. The Labor Department is pushing for employers to provide these amenities to tackle high rates of attrition among female workers. Another key priority is safety in the workplace as well as during the commute to work. According to the Government of India Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act (2013), all employers with 10 or more employees are required to establish an Internal Complaints Committee and enquire into reports of sexual harassment within 90 days. The Department of Labor has been pushing for improved compliance by urging commercial establishments and factories in Tamil Nadu to ensure these ICCs are in place and complaints of gender discrimination and sexual harassment are dealt with properly.
To ease women’s commute, the Government of Tamil Nadu introduced a free bus pass for women in 2021 allowing them to travel in government-run buses. However, last mile connectivity remains a concern. I also learned that some employers in the garment industry provide transportation to workers who live in areas surrounding the factory and offer hostel accommodation for migrant workers. Although these provisions have made it easier for women to work, some employer-provided hostels impose restrictions such as curfews or rules about whether female workers can leave the hostel unsupervised when they have time off. The vast majority of female workers in the garment industry are young, unmarried women and employers claim that parents feel more comfortable sending their daughters to work if they are being closely monitored.
While it is clear that much remains to be done to improve work environments and safe access to jobs for women, it was great to hear that this is a priority area for the government. I’m looking forward to continuing these conversations and thinking more about how higher tax revenues could be spent by the Greater Chennai Corporation to promote women’s safety in public spaces and public transport.