Anish Shah, president, FICCI, has set an ambitious goal to create four million job opportunities for women in the workforce over the next three years. This announcement was made during the FICCI Women in Workforce Summit and Awards.
During the summit, Shah called on corporate India to rethink their policies to support gender equity at every stage of a woman’s career.
Shah emphasised the importance of inclusivity in the workplace, noting that fostering a welcoming and diverse culture can boost productivity across organisations. He urged businesses to prioritise gender equity in their policies to make workplaces more inclusive for women.
At the summit, McKinsey & Company shared insights from a research study conducted in collaboration with FICCI. The study revealed troubling trends regarding women’s participation in India’s formal workforce.
The research showed that while women make up 33 per cent of the workforce at entry-level positions, their representation drops sharply to just 17 per cent at the executive level.
Despite these disparities, the study offered some hope, showing a reduction in women’s attrition rates as they rise through the ranks. Experts at the event also highlighted successful programmes, such as Mahindra Group’s Kaabil initiative, which aims to increase women’s economic contributions and address gender imbalances in the workforce.
The summit underscored the urgent need to address these gaps and create policies that help retain and promote women in the workplace, ultimately driving greater inclusivity and equity.
