Episode 12 - Making Workspaces Work for Women

Women in Labour

India’s Female Labour Force Participation rate is at an all-time low across industries except for one—garment manufacturing. In fact, the garment sector is made up of more than 50% women workers and is a critical driver of job creation for women. But at the same time it is an industry rife with difficulties and has perhaps the furthest to go in ensuring that women are truly empowered, respected and able to rise. This is a challenge our guest, Anant Ahuja, knows only too well. In this episode he talks to us about the challenges of trying to transform an old industry from the inside out by exploring ways to redesign the working experience to better support and empower female workers. But, as Anant says: “I think this idea of creating high quality jobs is not that easy, no matter who you're creating it for. I think there's a lot of areas to improve on, and yeah I think there's a lot of work left for us to do.” With special guest Anant Ahuja Anant Ahuja is the Head of Organisational Development (OD) at Shahi, India’s largest apparel manufacturer employing over 100,000 people. Since 2012, Anant has been spearheading positive change across the business through innovation and strategy to align the company’s growth with the development of people, community, and the environment. He has spoken about business and human rights at the United Nations and on women’s empowerment at Women Deliver. He believes that the private sector is a critical lever for development, which led him to start Good Business Lab (GBL), a labour innovation start-up that uses research to find common ground between worker wellbeing and business interests. Through his work at Shahi and GBL, Anant wants to change the way businesses operate. MORE TO READ. The Good Business Lab’s projects: https://www.goodbusinesslab.org/projects ‘From the Shop Floor and Beyond’ — Shahi Exports’ Blog: http://www.shahi.co.in/blog/ This 2018 IndiaSpend article: https://archive.indiaspend.com/cover-story/3-in-4-indian-women-dont-work-can-skilling-and-guaranteed-jobs-change-that-38932 This 2018 NPR article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/07/23/629871725/why-a-drop-of-4-degrees-made-a-big-difference-for-a-garment-makers-bottom-line This 2017 article about the Good Business Lab: https://networkcapital.co/2017/10/07/network-capital-member-anant-ahuja-social-startup-incentivizing-businesses-invest-worker-welfare/ This 2017 interview with Anant: https://www.teaandwater.co/insights/perspectives/conversation-with-anant-ahuja/ This 2017 article in the HBR: https://hbr.org/2017/07/an-experiment-in-india-shows-how-much-companies-have-to-gain-by-investing-in-their-employees MORE TO WATCH. This 2019 GBL Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZbPE0HTbnY This 2018 EdBrand interview with Anant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Uxx3hioJoUs&feature=emb_logo UPDATE: This description has been updated to acknowledge important human rights allegations at one of Shahi’s factories in 2018. We believe in absolute transparency. Below is some more information. The original report and the resolution that was reached: https://www.workersrights.org/factory-investigation/shahi-exports-pvt-ltd/ Shahi’s response to the allegation: http://www.shahi.co.in/blog/?p=697 A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.