Understanding Unpaid Care Work and Gender Disparities in India
Introduction
Experts have urged the Indian government to explore whether the unpaid caregiving performed by women is out of preference or perceived obligation. This discussion took place at a panel event during the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's (MoSPI) conference on the Time Use Survey (TUS) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Time Use Survey
The MoSPI’s Time Use Survey aims to quantify how Indians allocate their time to various activities, focusing on participation in both paid and unpaid tasks.
'Time Poverty' and Workforce Participation
- The burden of unpaid care work significantly contributes to women experiencing 'time poverty', impacting their ability to engage in paid employment and skill development.
- A 2014 study highlighted that a two-hour increase in unpaid work correlates with a 10% decline in Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR).
- India’s female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) was reported at 33.7% for ages 15 and above, starkly lower in comparison to the male LFPR of 77%.
Trends in Unpaid Care Work
- The 2024 Time Use Survey revealed that Indians spend an average of 116 minutes daily on unpaid caregiving, with women spending significantly more time (137 minutes) than men (75 minutes).
- Young females (ages 15-29) have seen a faster increase in caregiving responsibilities, now averaging 164 minutes per day compared to 154 minutes in 2019, while males increased minimally by two minutes.
Policy Recommendations and Additional Insights
- Experts suggest amending the TUS schedule to understand whether women’s unpaid work is due to choice or obligation.
- Recommendations include gathering data on digital access within households to study its impact on time-use patterns and capturing women's supervisory care needs.
Panel Discussion
The panel titled ‘Changing Patterns of Time Use, Care Work and Gender in a New Digital Era’ featured academics from various institutions, emphasizing the need for nuanced data to inform policies.