What's Happening?
India has introduced new labor codes effective from November 2025, designed to enhance women's participation in the workforce. These reforms aim to make employment safer and more accessible, with significant
changes such as allowing women to work night shifts in sectors like IT and healthcare, and extending maternity leave to 26 weeks. The All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE) released a white paper highlighting these changes, noting a rise in female labor force participation from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24. The reforms also include broader social security coverage and the inclusion of gig and platform workers, which is expected to benefit women balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
Why It's Important?
These labor reforms are significant as they represent a shift towards gender equality in the workplace, potentially setting a precedent for other countries. By making workplaces safer and more accommodating for women, these changes could lead to increased economic participation and empowerment of women, contributing to economic growth. The inclusion of gig workers in social security frameworks is particularly relevant in the modern economy, where flexible work arrangements are becoming more common. This could lead to a more inclusive workforce and help address gender disparities in employment.
What's Next?
The success of these reforms will depend on their implementation by employers and the responsiveness of markets. There may be challenges in ensuring compliance and adapting workplace cultures to these changes. Monitoring and evaluation will be crucial to assess the impact of these reforms on women's workforce participation and to make necessary adjustments. The international community may watch closely to see if similar reforms could be applied in other contexts to improve gender equality in the workplace.
