Women in Daily Labour Markets: A Study in Four Cities of Gujarat

Informal employment continues to be the norm in most low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. India and the state of Gujarat are no exception. The Daily Labour Markets (DLMs), as an informal market, provide spaces to bargain for better remuneration for labour. Still, they do not provide equal opportunities and access to women to capacitate themselves and enhance their employability. This paper provides insights into the status of women workers at 20 DLMs in the four major cities of Gujarat, India. It is found that the DLMs restrict their entry to women, as the markets are male-dominated. Moreover, the presence of female workers at the market is structured so that only women from the tribal and scheduled castes are visible. In contrast, upper-caste women are largely absent in the markets. The women workers were associated-migrants with less negotiation and decision power about the choice of work, besides facing challenges of access to basic amenities and safety and security. The markets also present gendered inequality in terms of wages.