In a significant move towards increasing diversity within the workforce, India's leading e-commerce and delivery giants including Flipkart, Zomato and Amazon have taken steps to incorporate more women into night shift jobs. It started. The initiative focuses specifically on the blue-collar sector and aims to balance gender representation and harness the untapped potential of the female workforce.
Initiatives to promote the active participation of women
Flipkart is proactive in this initiative and has started hiring women for night shifts at its fulfillment and sorting center in Haryana from September 2023. Similarly, Amazon India's Women in Night Shift (WINS) initiative, which is already in place, represents a major step forward towards this goal. Work is being carried out at one of the selection centers in Haryana. These initiatives are not limited to a single state but are part of a broader strategy to involve women in night shifts in various parts of India.
Expected increase in female labor force
According to CIEL HR Services, the current female participation rate in the e-commerce company workforce is estimated at 10%. However, this number is expected to increase significantly. Aditya Mishra, CEO of CIEL HR Services, says, “The size of the female workforce in this industry she estimates will increase by 25% in 2024.” This anticipated growth underscores the sector's commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment.
Challenges and countermeasures for a safer working environment
Despite progressive efforts, challenges remain, including social norms, transportation, and safety concerns for women working at night. To address these issues, e-commerce and delivery companies have taken various measures aimed at creating a friendly and safe workplace. These measures include extensive training programs covering various aspects such as road safety, fire safety, self-defense, prevention of sexual harassment (POSH) and gender awareness. In addition, safe transport, adequate physical infrastructure, facilities such as night canteens and constant surveillance by CCTV cameras have been introduced.
According to Teamlease Services, the employment environment in the e-commerce and logistics sector is vast, excluding riders, with an estimated workforce of about 500,000 people. Particularly in the gig economy, female employment is increasing markedly, increasing by more than 40% in 2023 compared to 2022. “The night economy is opening up and that applies to multiple sectors,” Chief Secretary Anjali Ravi Kumar said. Head of Sustainability at Zomato. Zomato itself has over 2,000 women delivery partners across India, with a significant number of them opting for night shifts, especially in the southern region.
Highlighting Flipkart's stance on this issue, Prajakta Kanagrekar, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customer Experience, Flipkart, shared insights on the company's workforce dynamics. “Currently, more than 800 women are working in night shifts in different parts of Haryana,” she said. This shows the active participation of women in the supply chain, including last-mile delivery operations, with women accounting for nearly 30% of Flipkart's supply chain employees.
Efforts by these e-commerce and delivery companies to incorporate more women into the night shift workforce are aimed at not only increasing diversity but also tapping into the untapped potential of women in blue-collar employment fields. is. These companies are setting a precedent for others in the industry by tackling challenges head-on and implementing comprehensive safety measures. As the night economy continues to expand, the inclusion of women in these roles will significantly contribute to the growth and dynamism of the sector.
