ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 has led to a disproportionate impact on women workers, particularly women migrant workers. Over the last few years, India has witnessed a decline in its female labour force participation. The ongoing pandemic has made things worse as it has disproportionately affected women workers, depriving them of access to social protection and decent work. The migrant workers have been the backbone of the urban economy working as domestic helps, home-based workers, self-employed workers, etc. A closer look at the migrant women in the urban economy based on estimates derived from the PLFS reflects that women in urban areas are mostly engaged in community, social, and personal services, manufacturing and trade, hotels, and transport and communication which are worst hit due to the pandemic.
