A Study on Attitudinal Hindrances and Human Resource Practices in Empowering Women Construction Workers

Construction workers are one of the most numerous and vulnerable segments of the unorganized sector in India. Women construction workers are not treated on par with men construction workers in wages and promotional opportunities, even though they form nearly half of the construction workforce. This study was conducted on 440 men and 440 women construction workers to find out the factors affecting their wages, the willingness of men workers to train and employ women construction workers as skilled workers, and the willingness of women construction workers to become skilled workers. The findings of the study show that there is a large discrimination in wages and also in promotion of women when compared to men. It has been found that most of the women construction workers, especially workers from rural areas, and literate and young women, are willing to be trained to become skilled workers (masons). The study also reveals that men construction workers, especially from urban areas, are willing not only to train but also give placement to them.