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@article{210241,
        author = {Sneha Ganesh Mhatre},
        title = {BREAKING BARRIERS, ENSURING SAFETY: PROTECTING WOMEN WORKERS UNDER INDIAN LABOUR LAW},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {6},
        pages = {225-232},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=210241},
        abstract = {Women are crucial to the economic and social advancement of India. They are involved in numerous fields, such as agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare, construction, information technology, domestic services, and the gig economy. Nonetheless, female workers encounter various obstacles, including gender bias, unequal pay, sexual harassment, hazardous working environments, insufficient maternity support, and restricted access to social security benefits.
The Constitution of India ensures that women are treated with equality, respect, and have access to equal opportunities. Several labor laws have been established to safeguard women's employment rights and enhance the conditions in which they work. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, along with the four Labour Codes, introduced essential protections concerning wages, industrial relations, social security, and workplace safety. The four Labour Codes became effective on November 21, 2025, representing a significant advancement in the framework of labor laws in India.
Legal provisions by themselves are insufficient to ensure adequate protection for women workers, as various challenges hinder their effectiveness. These include weak enforcement of laws, lack of awareness among workers about their rights, underreporting of violations, the prevalence of informal employment, and limited access to channels for lodging complaints. This paper examines existing safeguards, analyzes relevant judicial decisions, highlights ongoing challenges, and offers recommendations for reforms aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive working environment for women.},
        keywords = {Women Workers, Indian Labour Law, Gender Equality, Equal Wages, Social Security, Workplace Safety, Sexual Harassment, Maternity Benefits.},
        month = {November},
        }