Statutory Gender Quotas and Worksite Support
National labor markets in developing regions suffer from large gender participation gaps, where only 40% of women who desire employment are active in the workforce compared to 78% of men.
Picture this
This works like reserving designated seats on a public transit bus specifically for female passengers while adding a daycare center at the station. Setting aside explicit quotas and removing household childcare burdens enables women to enter public labor markets with fewer structural hurdles.
What the evidence says
Nationally, 40% of women who wanted work were employed versus 78% of men; MGNREGS policy guidelines legally mandate that at least one-third of beneficiaries be women alongside worksite childcare provisions.
- Who
- National labor market statistics across India and 9,600 households in Madhya Pradesh.
- How
- Policy evaluation integrated into a clustered Randomized Controlled Trial.
What to do
Incorporate legal reservation quotas and worksite childcare facilities into public infrastructure employment programs to lower entry barriers for women.
From the source
"In response, the program includes features intended to encourage women's participation, such as a requirement that at least one-third of beneficiaries be women and childcare provision at some worksites."
The_Impact_of_Womens_Employment_and_Control_over_Income_on_Family.pdf