Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said that India’s female labour force participation rate has increased from 23.3 per cent in 2017–18 to 40 per cent in 2025, highlighting growing women empowerment across the country.
Addressing the ‘SwigStree: Celebrating Women on the Move’ event organised by food delivery startup Swiggy, the minister emphasised that equal participation of women in the workforce is both a social necessity and an economic priority. He added that empowering women is key to building a Viksit Bharat.
Mandaviya stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new opportunities have opened up for women, leading to significant improvements in employment indicators. He noted that the Female Worker Population Ratio (FWPR) has risen from 22 per cent to nearly 39 per cent during the same period, while the Female Unemployment Rate (FUR) has declined from 5.6 per cent to 3.1 per cent.
The minister also highlighted the expansion of India’s social security coverage, which has grown nearly threefold from 19 per cent in 2015 to over 64.3 per cent in 2025, attributing it to sustained policy reforms, digital inclusion, and targeted welfare initiatives.
He further spoke about the four Labour Codes implemented last November, calling them transformative. He pointed out that the Code on Social Security now recognises gig and platform workers, many of whom are women, giving them legal identity and access to benefits.
Mandaviya added that the principle of equal pay for equal work has been included in the Labour Codes, marking a significant step towards reducing gender-based wage disparities.
He also noted that provisions such as work-from-home options, maternity benefits, and crèche facilities at workplaces aim to address barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in the workforce.
With Inputs From Ians
