Status of Industrial Women Workers in Nashik District: Socio-Economic Profile and Workplace Conditions

Abstract

The industrialization of Nashik district driven by MIDC zones, small and medium enterprises, and agro-processing units has expanded employment opportunities for women, yet the socio-economic status and workplace conditions of industrial women workers remain under-researched. This paper examines the socio-economic profile and workplace realities of women employed in Nashik’s industrial sector using secondary data from national and state surveys, factory/industry statistics, and district statistical publications. Data sources include the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), Directorate of Economics & Statistics (Maharashtra), and district statistical reports. Key indicators analyzed are employment shares by sector, age and education distribution, type of employment (regular vs. casual/contract), wages, hours of work, social protection coverage (PF/ESI), occupational safety and health, and time burden due to domestic responsibilities. Findings show that while female participation in the workforce has risen nationally in recent PLFS rounds, women in manufacturing and factory employment remain concentrated in low-paid, informal, and precarious segments; access to formal social security is limited and occupational safety concerns persist. In Nashik, district-level industrial statistics reveal growth in employment across selected MIDC estates but do not indicate proportional improvements in female job quality or upward mobility. The analysis highlights a gendered division of labor, wage differentials, and the compounding effect of unpaid domestic work that constrains women’s ability to access stable industrial jobs. The paper concludes with policy recommendations: strengthen collection and dissemination of gender-disaggregated industrial employment data at the district level; promote skills and apprenticeships targeted to women; enforce labour regulations on equal remuneration and social security; incentivize firms to provide childcare and transport; and implement district-level gender-responsive industrial development plans. These measures would improve the socio-economic outcomes and workplace conditions of industrial women workers in Nashik.