Care Work in India
Care Work and Women's Jobs
How the burden of unpaid care keeps many Indian women out of paid work, and how childcare and care services could raise female employment.
India’s female labour force participation has been low compared with many countries, though it rose in recent PLFS surveys.
The care burden
- Indian women spend several hours a day on unpaid care and domestic work, far more than men, as shown by Time Use Surveys.
- Care duties limit time for paid work, especially after marriage and childbirth.
Evidence
- Studies find that access to childcare raises mothers’ employment.
- Research in other countries, like Quebec’s low-cost childcare programme, found large increases in mothers’ work.
Norms
Social norms about women’s roles and safety also limit work, even when care is available.
Care as jobs
Expanding care services creates jobs, mostly for women, while freeing other women to work: a double dividend.
Estimates
The ILO has estimated that investing in care could create millions of jobs worldwide.
Policy ideas
- Public childcare through anganwadis extended to full day.
- Eldercare services.
- Paternity leave to share care.
When a village anganwadi extends to a full day, mothers can take jobs at a nearby factory, knowing their children are cared for.
Unpaid care burdens and norms limit women's options.
- Unpaid care limits Indian women's paid work.
- Childcare access raises mothers' employment.
- Care services create jobs and free women to work.
- Norms also shape women's participation.
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