On Tuesday, the Centre called upon employers to guarantee digital wage payments and provide 26 weeks of paid maternity leave to female construction workers. These directives were part of a series of measures, including advisories issued by the Ministries of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and Housing and Urban Affairs. These measures aim to promote the active involvement of women in the workforce.
For women with more than two children or those who are adopting or commissioning mothers, employers are required to offer 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. Furthermore, the advisories also cover miscarriages, stating that female workers in the construction sector are entitled to six weeks of leave with wages equivalent to maternity benefits following a miscarriage.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued an advisory emphasizing the importance of ensuring broad participation of women and offering gender-equal opportunities in the highway sector. In line with statutory provisions, MoRTH has decided to issue this advisory to all implementing agencies. These agencies are responsible for ensuring and overseeing the adoption of the advisory by their respective contractors and concessionaires.
Employers in the highways sector are required to provide facilities like restrooms, washing areas, childcare, and suitable lodging for migrant women workers, as outlined in the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act and Rules.
The advisory highlighted the importance of employers taking proactive steps to implement policies and programs that promote the participation of women in the workforce. Similar directives were outlined in the advisory issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, hailed the advisory addressing female construction workers nationwide, which mandates employers to grant them 26 weeks of maternity leave. She described this provision as revolutionary, emphasizing the importance of not just documenting policies but also ensuring their active implementation by authorities.
“With the issuance of the advisory, it simplifies the process for officers and the Ministry to assess the influence of such directives on the female construction workforce nationwide,” she stated.
Ms. Irani further disclosed that the government has urged Central universities to investigate the feasibility of setting up working women’s hostels on campuses, with government assistance.
“We have proposed, in collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and the Women and Child Development Ministry, to our counterparts in the Ministry of Education that our Central universities receive additional support to establish hostels exclusively for working women within the university premises,” she explained, noting that several Central universities have already submitted their proposals in writing.
She made these remarks during a joint event organized by the Women and Child Development Ministry and the Labour Ministry called ‘Women in Workforce for Viksit Bharat’.
Furthermore, a comprehensive advisory aimed at enhancing the overall participation of women in the workforce was also unveiled by the Union Labour Ministry during the event.
