The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Women and gender bias

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Women and gender bias

Special Correspondent

`Many women employees work under unfavourable conditions'

Bangalore: In the software sector, 30-35 per cent of the employees are women, in the IT-enabled services, they form 50 per cent and in the BPO/call centre segment, they often outnumber men.

While women seem to get equal employment opportunities in the industry sectors dominating the Bangalore job scene, they have their own specific difficulties. Male supervisors who sometime exhibit gender bias, insecurity while travelling back home late, snide remarks from male colleagues are some of their problems.

"Though the laws in India are loosely worded about gender bias in the workplace, employers are required to make certain facilities for women under the labour laws. There are also conditions under which women may or not may work night shifts, and separate transport arrangements have to be made for them,'' says Malini Jayadev, legal consultant.

Most managements do take good care of women employees and are willing to listen to complaints of harassment and take suitable action, she says.

Over the years, with more women entering the work place, attitude of men is also slowly beginning to change for the better.

Travel within the city, especially at night, is no longer as safe for women as it used to be. Women complain about the rude behaviour of auto drivers and commuters on buses.

Dismal set-up

Many women employees continue to work under unfavourable conditions in garment factories, industries supplying components to larger manufacturers and the healthcare sector, besides educational institutions, some trade union leaders say.

"Male supervisors have to act impartially when dealing with instances of gender bias or harassment," says Ms. Jayadev.

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