In their desire to stay ahead with men and create a niche for themselves in competitive economy, majority of Indian women now put in over 60 hours of work in a week, the practice quite prevalent with male employees even at cost of their safety and security, according to The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
The aforesaid findings are brought out by the ASSOCHAM on the eve of International Women's Day, highlighting that working women even at conservative Indian homes are being supported by their husbands and in-laws to stay late in their respective offices to accomplish their legitimate objectives.
Releasing the ASSOCHAM's findings, its President, Mr. Venugopal N. Dhoot said that staying late has become a normal practice even in government offices by working women as these now receive more than adequate support from their dependent at home. Why talk of corporate sector, which provides much more higher perks and perquisities including salaries to working women of higher efficiency and more productivity, said Mr. Dhoot.
The sectors in which longer working hours are embraced by majority of working women include aviation, electronics & print media, hospitality, banking & finance, retail, IT, medical practitioners including industry associations of apex nature as these provide for better work culture and cool and intact working environment.
It is also found out that educated women are no longer continuing to pursue careers in their traditional forte such as teaching, tailoring, weaving, nurturing crèches etc. and now diversifying into areas that were men dominated such as flying, engineering, defence, police and para military services.
The reports suggests that the working male lot in these sectors would face stiffer challenges from their female counterparts and would have to work harder to maintain their edge as working competition between men and women is going to be stiffer in future as expansion of opportunities would further widen in most of these sectors because of their potential of being described the rising sectors of Indian economy.
It may be mentioned here that until about 2005, most of the working women would put in not beyond 48 hours of work as required by the statue. But, as the liberalization is advancing and organizational pressures are rising and becoming multitasking, just as male employees have initiated themselves to respond to new requirements, working women's are now following the suite.
This is so to establish themselves on equal footing with their male counterparts if not stay much ahead of them and that is why, it is becoming a practice to enjoy working late hours and endure patiently the work pressures emerging out of new competitive environment, highlights the ASSOCHAM findings.
The Chamber findings also reveal that women security is definitely an issue which is not completely dealt with by every employer as it is practically not possible, nevertheless, the passion to do better in life and stay ahead with an edge and niche, working women are themselves prepared to take on with this issue.
