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The IUP Journal of Law Review

Right to Equal Pay for Equal Work: A Critical Analysis of the Plight of Women Working in the Construction Industry of India

Article Details

Pub. Date	: Oct 2021
Product Name	: The IUP Journal of Law Review
Product Type	: Article
Product Code	: IJLR41021
Author Name	: Revati Naik
Availability	: YES
Subject/Domain	: Arts & Humanities
Download Format	: PDF Format
No. of Pages	: 9

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Abstract

Economic empowerment of women is a means to realization of their rights and national development. In India, after agriculture, the construction sector is one of the largest contributors to economic activity and 30% of the construction workers are women. Compared to their male counterparts, women in the construction sector are often denied the right to equal pay for equal work. This discrimination is due to the interplay of various factors such as nature of work, gender stereotypes, perception about construction as a male-oriented industry and engagement of women as unorganized workers. In India, the mandate to pay parity is guaranteed by the Constitution and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. The enforcement of right to equal pay is hampered by various lacunae prevailing in the substantive law as well as problems faced in implementation. This paper is an attempt to understand the discrimination regarding payment of wages faced by women in the construction industry, find out the causes of it and make concrete recommendation to deal with it.

Introduction

The economic development of a country depends upon the development of its citizens, which is achieved through their participation in work. The involvement of both men and women in productive work is a prerequisite of a developed nation. In addition to contributing to the economic growth of the country, employment of women leads to their empowerment, which itself is a multifaceted concept. It is recognized that economic empowerment of women is essential for realizing their rights and liberation and also to achieve broader goals such as national development, economic growth, poverty eradication, health, etc. Women who are economically empowered contribute more to their families, societies and national economy, and in turn contribute to sustainable development. However, the journey of women to become economically empowered is not easy. It is full of obstacles such as gender bias and discrimination. Women suffer gender discrimination in terms of the jobs available to them, their remuneration, benefits