This was a short-term study, soley based on secondary data sources. It aimed at assessing the impact of economic liberalisation on the textiles and food processing industries in India – how it has helped the industries growth and whether women workers have been able to reap the benefits. These two sectors were selected due to the large proportion of women employed in these industries and because both industries have experienced substantial export-led growth in the post-liberalization period.

The study found that although both the textiles and food processing industries have experienced substantial export and employment growth in the post-liberalization period, this does not necessarily mean that there has been an improvement in worker’s wages or working conditions in these industries. It found that the increasing mechanisation of the textiles sector could pose a particular threat to women’s jobs because women tend to be employed in greater numbers in the more labour-intensive processes.

The study found that many of the jobs created in the food processing sector were very casual in nature and that woman workers are over-represented in part-time work and in the unorganised sector. The case study conducted on the marine processing industry illustrated that in spite of many indicators of improvements in the employment situation in this industry, the conditions of workers are still very poor.

The study found that although there have been various policies initiated by the government to promote exports, not many steps have been taken to ensure that workers in the sector also reap the benefits of growth. It was recommended that while formulating policies, the Government of India should give more attention to the welfare of workers – particularly women workers - in the industry.

The study was commissioned by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNIFEM).
Gender and Local Governance: It’s Implications on Development (2002)