WOMEN EXCLUDED
Regional labour office gives a clean chit to Foxconn on alleged case of discrimination against married women
In its submission to the labour ministry on Wednesday, the regional labour commissioner, Chennai, said there is no evidence supporting claims of discrimination against married women in the recruitment and employment processes at the Foxconn's Chennai iPhone factory.
Indian officials visit Foxconn iPhone plant, question executives about hiring
Indian labour officials inspected a Foxconn factory near Chennai, questioning executives about alleged discriminatory hiring practices against married women. This follows a Reuters report revealing that Foxconn systematically excludes married women from iPhone assembly jobs. The investigation has prompted government inquiries and public debates about workplace discrimination and labour laws.
Women in India face a jobs crisis. Are factories the solution?
As international brands limit their dependence on China by shifting some manufacturing to India, the trend holds the potential to generate significant numbers of manufacturing jobs - especially for women, who have largely been excluded from the ranks of formal Indian employment.
NHRC seeks detailed report from labour ministry, Tamil Nadu government on Foxconn issue
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the central labor ministry and Tamil Nadu government over allegations of Foxconn's discrimination against married women at its Sriperumbudur assembly plant. This action follows reports that Foxconn excluded married women from employment, raising serious concerns about gender equality and the violation of the right to equal opportunity.
'We hire more women because they are more disciplined', says Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal on Foxconn controversy
Ola's founder Bhavish Aggarwal reaffirmed the company's commitment to employing women, including married women, amid reports of Foxconn's discriminatory practices. Ola's FutureFactory in Tamil Nadu employs an all-women workforce, with plans to extend this model to its new Gigafactory. Aggarwal emphasized that women are disciplined and dexterous, and Ola aims to address the low representation of women in the workforce by hiring at all levels, including senior management.
A Taliban delegation attends a UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan, with women excluded
The Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second one in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that the Taliban be treated as the country's legitimate rulers. The Taliban seized power in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country following two decades of war.
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Apple supplier Foxconn rejects married women from India iPhone jobs
A former human-resources executive at Foxconn India said the company's executives verbally convey the recruitment rules to its Indian hiring agencies, which Foxconn tasks with scouting for candidates, bringing them in for interviews and employing them.
Ladies at the head of the lines
The first five phases of the 18th Lok Sabha elections in India have concluded, with strong voter turnout, especially among women. Despite concerns, 66.95% turnout was recorded in the first four phases, with 25 million more voters than in 2019. Women have shown significant political engagement, with their voter numbers increasing more than men's. Key states like Karnataka and Telangana saw substantial voter increases. This trend continues the pattern of higher voter participation seen since 2014, highlighting women's growing influence in Indian politics.
Concerns on low voter turnout a 'myth'; absolute number of voters correct way to analyse: SBI Report
An economist at SBI, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, dismissed concerns about low voter turnout in the first two phases of the 2024 general elections, labeling them as a "myth." He suggested that analyzing the absolute number of votes cast provides a better measure of turnout. Ghosh noted a 0.4 percent increase in the absolute number of votes cast in the initial phases. While acknowledging a 3.1 percentage point deviation from the 2019 voting trend, Ghosh predicted a potential "J-shaped" growth in the remaining phases.
Delhi HC ask Centre to decide representation to include women in armed forces through CDS exam
The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to decide within eight weeks a representation requesting the entry of women into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy of the Indian Armed Forces through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination. The court passed the order on a petition by Kush Kalra, who challenged the notification, which excluded female candidates solely on the grounds of their gender.
Notification for granting pension to women issued in Himachal Pradesh
On March 4, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government will give Rs 1,500 per month to women and said a sum of Rs 800 crore would be spent on the initiative, benefitting more than five lakh women annually.
"Deliberate, malicious attempt...": India refutes study claiming 6.7 million children without food in country
"Zero-food children" are children between 6 and 23 months old who did not consume any milk, formula, or food in the last 24 hours. A Harvard study, published last month in the JAMA Network Open, a peer-reviewed journal, found that the prevalence of "zero-food children" is as high as 21 per cent in some countries. India had by far the largest number of zero-food children (6.7 million), which is almost half of all zero-food children in the 92 countries included in this study.
Ladies, don't fall for these gender traps
The celebration of Women's Day on March 8th has been criticized for potentially reinforcing gender stereotypes and societal biases. In some cultures, women are praised for their roles as homemakers, which can undermine their achievements in other areas such as business, decision-making, and wealth management. Additionally, the pressure on women to conform to traditional roles as "great householders," "good mothers," and "caring daughters-in-law" can limit their opportunities and self-worth. The focus on women's appearance, like the value placed on expensive jewelry, can also serve to diminish their true value and contributions.
Loans to women grow at 19% in 2023; personal loans jump fastest: Report
Loans availed by women in India grew 19% in 2023, outpacing the overall loan growth of 17%. Personal loans and two-wheeler loans portfolios saw the fastest growth at 26%. The overall portfolio to women stood at Rs 30.95 lakh crore in 2023, up from Rs 26 lakh crore at the end of 2022. The growth in women borrowers by active loans was the fastest in the personal loan segment at 52%.
Ecomm companies like Flipkart, Zomato, and Amazon start hiring women for night shifts
Flipkart has been hiring women for fulfilment and sortation centres in Haryana from September 2023. Amazon India recently launched women in night shifts (WINS) initiative at one of its sorting centres in Haryana. Both ecommerce players also have women in night shifts across other states. These companies, including others like Zomato, are looking to increase the number of women in the blue-collar workforce.
US, India join forces to promote women's inclusion in STEM
The US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment promotes gender equality in India's STEM fields. It aims to create opportunities for women's employment and entrepreneurship, encouraging private companies to mandate women's inclusion and stakeholders to increase opportunities for women.
Hindu side moves SC for ASI survey of 'Shivling' in sealed area of Gyanvapi mosque
The plaintiffs submitted that the exact nature of the 'Shivling' can be determined after removing the artificial/modern walls/floors surrounding it and by undertaking a survey of the entire sealed area by excavation and using other scientific methods. The application filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the direction be issued to the ASI to submit a report within the time provided by the court.
Are women & children's safety always the 'first'? Cambridge study says popular shipwreck code is mostly a myth
In most shipwrecks, the study found, women have a survival disadvantage compared with men. Captains and crew survive at a significantly higher rate than passengers. And it turned out that some survivors later spoke of men trying to save themselves.
Just one in 10 executive directors is a woman: Study
Indian corporations are struggling to attract more women to executive director roles, with only 10% of the top 200 listed companies having female executive directors. This is despite efforts to strengthen diversity at leadership levels by Indian corporations. The higher proportion of women as independent directors is 27%, primarily due to the regulatory mandate of at least one independent woman director on a listed board.
Delhi HC asks Centre to explain exclusion of single, unmarried women from surrogacy law
The Delhi High Court has questioned the exclusion of single, unmarried women from accessing the surrogacy procedure under the new Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. The court asked why the marital status of a woman should determine her eligibility for surrogacy and deemed it discriminatory. The court was hearing a petition filed by a single, unmarried woman who challenged the Act's provisions that restrict access to surrogacy for women like herself.
Women's contribution in agri-food systems not recognised; need to change this story: President Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the need to recognize women's contributions in agri-food systems and address the structural inequality they face. She highlighted that discriminatory social norms and barriers to knowledge, resources, and social networks hold women back from assuming decision-making roles in agriculture.
Arjun Meghwal to move Advocate Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to move the Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha for consideration. The bill aims to amend the Advocates Act, 1961 and repeal obsolete provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879. It also seeks to make the offense of 'Touting' punishable and empowers judges to publish a list of offenders. The legislative business for the session also includes reports on various committees and the discussion on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Women's reservation bill: A history of female participation in India's workforce
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), doubling the percentage of women in the workforce could boost India's growth rate from 7.5% to 9% and raise the country's GDP to $700 billion by 2025.
When women can be posted in Siachen, men can also work as nurses in Army: HC
The Delhi High Court has called for gender equality in the armed forces, stating that if a woman officer can be posted in Siachen, a man can also work as a nurse in the Army. The court was hearing a petition challenging the practice of having only women nurses in military establishments. The bench highlighted the Supreme Court's permission for women to join the National Defence Academy and emphasized the need to eliminate gender bias. The court listed the case for further hearing in November. The petition argues that excluding male nurses from the Army is unconstitutional and unjustifiable.
The Taliban have banned girls from school for 2 years. It's a worsening crisis for all Afghans
The United Nations General Assembly is addressing the rights of Afghan women and children, particularly concerning the Taliban's ban on girls' education. The ban, which the Taliban justifies based on their interpretation of Islamic law, affects over 1 million girls in Afghanistan. Muslim-majority countries and international organizations have condemned the ban, but the Taliban remains resistant. The impact of the ban extends beyond education, affecting the country's economy, healthcare, and overall population. While it may take time for the consequences to trigger widespread unrest among Afghan men, women have already protested against the restrictions.
J-K CEO issues list of 358 municipal wards reserved for women
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole has issued a fresh list reserving 358 municipal wards out of 1,119 for women and sought objections and suggestions to it within a week. The list of reserved wards for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women in open, SC and ST categories have been made on the basis of population data.
How Supreme Court’s gender-just handbook could further enable India Inc to embrace inclusive language
The 30-page handbook by the Supreme Court has a “glossary of gender-unjust terms and suggests alternative words or phrases which may be used while drafting pleadings as well as orders and judgments”. It notes that harmful gender stereotypes perpetuate discrimination and exclusion.
Afghanistan: Girls, women demand reopening educational institutes for them
Girls and women in Afghanistan who have been deprived of their education have demanded the reopening of educational institutions in the country, on the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover. The women hoped that their basic right to education would be reinstated. Afghanistan's women have faced immense challenges since the Taliban came to power, facing no access to education, employment and public spaces.
11,414 women serving in three services: Government data
The number of women personnel employed in the three services excluding those in medical, dental and nursing services comes to 4,948.
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