Noted economist lord Meghnad Desai on Thursday emphasised on labour market reforms with greater thrust on pro-women measures to end discrimination in wages and better steps for sustenance of women in the wake of shifting demographic patterns over the years. Desai, a labor Politician, expressed the need of the reform on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Conference of ‘The Indian Society of labour Economics’ at Ranchi.
The labour economist pointed at the undefined areas of labour Economics which address the key issues which can address the question of poor compensation and recognition of the work done particularly by women of all age groups.
“Whatever has happened so far in labour Economics has not defined ‘categorisation of work’ and ‘value of work’ which needs to be done in the changing demography,” said Desai.
The three-day conference is being jointly organised at the BIT, Mesra campus by Institute of Human Development and department of management, BIT, Mesra.
Changing employment pattern and nature of workforce that has seen increased participation of women yet lack of recognition to the work done by the fairer-sex across organized and unorganized sector has made reforms in the interest of the women an unavoidable action on the part of labour economists and policy makers. With an increase in life expectancy of women also care in the old-age to a great extent depends on the compensation given to women discharging the responsibility warranted by the role given at the work place.
“It is imperative to understand the contribution made by women to the society. This is a very big problem. Women are among the poorest section of the population. They work and they should be compensated (adequately) as destituteness is one of the aspects (of their life),” maintained Desai.
Unpaid work which comprises mostly works related to extending care and household upkeep is also perceived to lead to gender injustice and is claimed to be equally a concern for the economy. Women being more responsible for the care work at households that is unpaid and cumulative effect on the overall burden on women doing paid work of varied nature believe experts should be viewed as an stimuli for initiating labour reforms and policy adjustments.