Good Business Lab (GBL), a non-profit labour research organisation, has brought together automotive industry leaders, women workers and other stakeholders in New Delhi to discuss ways to increase women’s participation in automotive manufacturing.
The meeting followed the launch of GBL’s report, Powering India’s Automotive Sector: Unlocking Women’s Talent for Industry Growth, which found that women account for just 8.7% of the combined workforce of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and auto component makers. The three-year study covered more than 55 automotive firms, 400 stakeholders and 1,900 individuals.
Discussions focused on reducing barriers to women’s entry into manufacturing, improving retention and creating better career opportunities. Participants also highlighted the need for safer workplaces, reliable transport, childcare support and greater access to skills training.
Industry leaders and women shopfloor employees shared their experiences during three panel discussions covering the business benefits of inclusion, career development and ways to make women’s participation more widespread across the sector.
Mr. Nirmal Deshpande, Managing Director of Good Business Lab, called for closer collaboration between companies, philanthropic organisations and the government to scale up successful initiatives. He said increasing women’s participation was not just an inclusion priority but also a business necessity.