National Workshop on India’s Declining Female Labour Force Participation (PAC | Southern Voice | Global Goals Week)

Opening Remarks: Gurucharan Gollerkeri. Chief Guest: Capt. P. Manivannan, IAS. Panelists: Antara Ganguli (UNICEF); Dr. Vinod Vyasulu (CBPS); Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee (Bangalore University)

National Workshop on India's Declining Female Labour Force Participation: Implications for Policy and Action documents a national workshop organised by the Public Affairs Centre (PAC) under the Southern Voice State of the SDGs Initiative to disseminate findings from its research on the declining Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India and facilitate dialogue among policymakers, researchers, government officials, civil society organisations, and development practitioners. The workshop examined the structural, social, and economic barriers limiting women's participation in the workforce, including unpaid care work, gender norms, inadequate skilling programmes, poor social security, unsafe work environments, and limited access to decent employment. Drawing on PAC's India case study, expert presentations, panel discussions, and stakeholder deliberations, the report highlights the need for recognising and valuing unpaid work, improving gender-responsive skill development, strengthening childcare and social protection systems, promoting safe mobility, addressing workplace gender segregation, and enhancing women's access to formal employment. The workshop concluded by recommending multi-level policy interventions involving government, markets, and communities, alongside gender sensitisation, institutional reforms, stronger community organisations, and evidence-based policymaking to increase women's workforce participation and advance India's commitments to SDGs 5 (Gender Equality) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).