New Delhi, Jun 24 (KNN) India is making collective efforts to reduce gender gaps in labour force participation, said Union Minister for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar.

The minister while addressing a ministerial on Declaration and Employment Working Group Priorities at G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting on Wednesday, said, '' The country is ensuring education, training, skilling, entrepreneurship development and equal pay for equal work.''

Gangwar further said that the new Code on Wages, 2019 shall reduce gender-based discrimination in wages, recruitment and conditions of employment. Women are entitled for all types of work in all establishments. Employers have to ensure their safety and provisions for working hours.

''Women can now work even during night hours,'' he added.

Gangwar also said that the duration of paid maternity leave has been increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana provides financial support to women entrepreneurs to start small enterprises. Collateral free loans worth Rupees 9 thousand billion have been disbursed under this scheme. There have been around 70 per cent accounts of women in this Scheme.

The minister added that the new Code on Social Security may now include even self-employed and all other classes of workforce into the folds of social security coverage. A voluntary and contributory pension scheme introduced in 2019 for the unorganised sector workers provides for minimum assured pension after the age of 60 years.

While supporting the adoption of the Joint Ministerial Declaration, the minister emphasised that such an initiative by the member countries shall be very helpful for the overall development and capacity building of the entire young generation, which is rapidly evolving and has now become more challenging due to the pandemic.