Recent reports, surveys and experiences suggest that COVID-19 affects women more than men in terms of employment. By S B Shashank
Coronavirus is said to be secular and egalitarian. It seems so awkward to say so for the disaster that it epitomises. Despite all evils, the virus marks its presence by not making distinction in race, caste, faith, creed and economic status. However, can we say the same about its impact being gender neutral in terms of employment? Definitely not in the case of women as recent reports, surveys and experiences suggest that it affects women more than men workforce.
.All over the world, female labour force participation, which is one of the major factors of women empowerment, stands distressingly low. In India, it’s much worse, even lower than what the global average of participation rate is and what some of the neighbouring countries have. Latest International Labour Organisation (ILO) data shows that female participation rate in the labour force in India was 21 per cent in 2019, which has been continuously on decline since the last 15 years, when it had touched the peak of 32 per cent. Global average figure is 47 per cent. As compared to many other countries, India’s score in this regard is abysmally lower. Neighbouring countries in South Asia such as Bangladesh (36 per cent), Bhutan (59 per cent), China (60 per cent), Sri Lanka (35 per cent) are way ahead. Even Pakistan is one notch higher, though just at 22 per cent. In the middle east, where most countries are doing bad, Saudi Arabia is doing much better at 32 per cent. Such dismal figures do not mean that Indian women are sitting idle and doing nothing. These figures clearly indicate that women in India are mostly engaged in unpaid works.
COVID containment strategy, which entailed prolonged lockdown in April, May and then semi-lockdown in subsequent months, has affected the economy adversely. It brought devastation to sectors such as entertainment, hospitality, eateries, apparel, tourism and travel, where the presence of women in the workforce has been significantly higher. Recent study conducted by McKinsey Global Institute, US based research arm of McKinsey & Co, shows that women are experiencing greater job loss than men due to the pandemic. In the case of India, the report shows that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting women in terms of employment. The obvious reason is that the sectors of the economy which have better share of women participation are the ones worse affected by the COVID crisis. The only exceptions are health care and to some extent, teaching.
With Coronavirus playing havoc with the economy and not sparing even the most technologically advanced countries, the sustainable development goal on gender equality is going to be an uphill task for India. Niti Aayog in its report in 2019, much before the pandemic hit us, rated the country's performance at 42 on a scale of 100. All the states with exceptions of Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and pre-divided J & K are in the red zone on the performance chart and far behind on the path to gender equality mandated in SDG 5. With COVID not abating and still hampering economic activities, parity with men in employment will be the key factor to decide whether performance for SDG 5 will take a turn. It's a paradox that while India impressed the world with economic growth over the last fifteen years, the trajectory of women participation in the labour force continues to roll downhill over the same period.
In times of crisis, especially when there is existential threat from the virus, what has been enforced is that women are made to sacrifice for being saviour for the family well being and men tend to be the earner, a role distinction that is borne of tradition and culture laced with patriarchy. As a result of the lockdown, women are substantially more likely to perform many of the unpaid care and domestic tasks. This crisis has put them with an additional load of watching the children, caring for the elderly and sick, cleaning, cooking and serving meals due to the lockdown.
Along with the other pandemics of the past, COVID-19 has also been written in the pages of history, all thanks to human ingenuity. What imminently seems to have lasting impact on women emancipation need to be handled now for timely intervention will contain its deleterious effect. There is a dire need to identify sectors and roles which can be meaningful and remunerative for women.
(The author is an IAS officer serving Government of NCT of Delhi as a Director in the Department of Women and Child Development. He is also a National Awardee for Election Management given by the President of India.)