Globalisation and Its Implication on Law Relating to Women and Their Work-Life Balance

Abstract

Indian women have been revered in the Indian society giving them the form of Goddesses. In all the Hindu scriptures, she is revered and worshiped as an all-empowering force. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, both the stories were woven around the women only. But from time immemorial, she has been confined to domestic work. Work and life are interrelated. It is impossible to live a life without work. Every human being has to work to earn his bread. Indian society has been a patriarchal society where man is the bread earner of the family. In this patriarchal society a woman has always been subordinate to men. Even the term “Women” is not independent of the word “Men”. Ever since ages, women were considered to be the weaker section of society and her role was limited to domestic work at home. However, the modern civilization and globalization has set in considerable changes in the society especially with regard to the entry of women in work force by providing them with ample opportunities. This has also resulted in violation of the international as well as national laws prescribing eight hours of work, which has been discussed below, in order to achieve the global target thereby conflicting work and family life. The main causes for conflict in worklife balance being gender discrimination, work area ethics and various policies and family culture, despite the ‘Equal Remuneration Act’, various provisions of Constitution, Factories Act etc. This has been substantiated by the International Labour Organisation’s Wage Report and the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Reports. “The Strategy for New India@75” document has also suggested inflexibility in hours of work and absence of parttime works as causes for imbalance in work and family life.