Workplace Culture & Status of Women Construction Labourers: A case study in Kolkata, West Bengal

A B S T R A C T The construction sector has the largest number of unorganized labourers in India next only to the agricultural sector, and women form almost half the workforce as unskilled labourers with no occupational mobility. Often they face serious problems/constraints related to work, viz., lack of continuity, insecurity, wage discrimination, gender and sexual harassment, unhealthy job relationship, lower wages, and poor job satisfaction. Despite these, construction industry overwhelmingly attracts female workers. Poverty being the main cause, the worst affected are the single and the derelict / destitute women with children to support. Their husbands are often drunkards or are found to have other sexual partners and find themselves in debt trap. Unlike the womenfolk, men who come in as small boys, assist the masons for some years as helpers and finally, graduate as masons, some of whom later become contractors and move up the social ladder. Hence, the female labourers require empowerment through training and skill enhancement. The present study is an attempt to identify the issues related to workplace culture or working environment of these numerous, poor and most vulnerable segments of the Indian society.