According to the ILO’s latest working paper, the introduction and expansion of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has led to a decline in gender wage gap and increased compliance with the minimum wage regulations in rural areas.
Key points
- Besides, the paper also noted that the gap in rural wages between formal salaried workers and casual workers also decreased due to the employment guarantee scheme.
- As NREGS was introduced and expanded, the rate of compliance with minimum wage regulations increased, the gap in rural wages between formal salaried workers and casual workers decreased and, similarly, the gender wage gaps in rural areas declined, the paper notes.
MGNREGS
- Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage employment Scheme.
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), 2005, requires that priority shall be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work.
- Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a gender-neutral Scheme which promotes participation of women by providing wage parity with men, provision of separate schedule of rates of wages for women, facilities for crèche, work-side sheds for children, and child care services.
- In convergence with National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), women mates have also been introduced, which again facilitate the participation of women.
- The Scheme also endeavors to provide works near the residence of the beneficiaries.
