The focus of this book is the conditions of employment of women labour in the changing industrial scenario. It is a micro effort to address what in effect is a macro concern, namely, the nature and quality of employment being generated in the economy for lower and middle class women. At the macro level, the post-reform period has been associated with growing employment opportunities for women especially in the export-oriented industries. However, these claims of increased employment generation are not generally supplemented with information on the nature of employment and/or the terms and conditions under which labour is employed in these emerging industries.
Lower and middle class women have many responsibilities to cater. While on the one hand they are forced to conform to the social norms and remain under authoritative conservative atmosphere, on the other hand they are discriminated and exploited at their work place. They are denied good wages, maternity benefits and other laws to benefit them. Their low educational and economic status very often forces them to accept what they are offered without a protest. They cannot be unionized, and demand their justified rights. On home front they very often undergo rough treatment by their husbands and in-laws and many a times questioned about their morality and purity. This book tries to give an insight into the lives and conditions of such women. It is hoped that this book will create an awareness about these exploited, neglected and marginalised women of the Indian society. |
