NHRC suggests childcare leave for both parents

Providing paid childcare leave to both women and men and launching a nationwide marketing campaign to “share the load” of unpaid home work by ladies are among the many suggestions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the Union Ministries involved for rising ladies’s participation within the workforce.

The NHRC’s core group on ladies met on November 17 to debate the reducing participation of ladies within the workforce. A compilation of the suggestions would quickly be despatched to the Ministries involved, together with Women and Child Development, Education, Home Affairs, Labour and Employment and Skill Development, NHRC member Jyotika Kalra, who chaired the assembly, stated on Saturday.

The suggestions included strict implementation of present legal guidelines, together with for paid maternity leave of 26 weeks and prevention of sexual harassment at office. Paid childcare leave of as much as two years for the mom and father ought to be supplied, the minutes of the assembly stated.

“Entitling only mother to claim this leave, puts the woman at disadvantageous position qua her professional achievements… Gender stereotyping of roles should be stopped through education, especially the role of woman inside the house and role of man outside the house…Conduct workshops for men to understand that household chores are not just women’s responsibility. Maternity leave should be provided to female students in higher education,” the NHRC core group stated.

‘Grant small loans’

In rural areas, there was must impart talent training and supply small loans to ladies to allow them to transcend agriculture and allied actions. The group additionally stated accredited social well being activists (ASHA), anganwadi and sanitation staff ought to be paid in accordance with the minimal wages set by the federal government. In city areas, an employment assure scheme alongside the strains of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with reservation for ladies ought to be launched, it stated.

“Skill development in non-traditional and unconventional livelihood areas like driving, plumber, carpenter, electrician etc. should be encouraged. Opportunities available to skilled women in urban areas are often gendered (like working in beauty parlours or as tailors) despite women being qualified to do various other jobs. Gender stereotyping in job opportunities needs to end,” the NHRC core group stated.

There ought to be funding within the care economic system by the state, in addition to the choice of taking leave to care for the aged and individuals with disabilities, the group stated.

“Home-based workers are rarely counted in any economic survey. Unpaid work should also be surveyed so that their contribution is recognised.”

The core group additionally beneficial that the federal government guarantee there was no gender-based wage hole.

“Discrimination and inequality are rampant and well-drafted laws are required for ensuring that such practices are eradicated from the labour market,” the group stated, in keeping with the minutes of the assembly.