Abstract
Amid the rising number of women joining the workforce in India, achieving gender equality has become increasingly important. Despite legal measures aimed at ensuring fairness, challenges persist, particularly in workplace settings. This study examined the working conditions and rights of 50 women employed in food processing units in Jammu, India, evaluating the enforcement of the Factories Act of 1948. The findings revealed that 91.6% of these women earned less than 10,000 INR per month, and 88% had education levels below matriculation. While 83% of respondents expressed satisfaction with cleanliness provisions, 80% reported inadequate access to separate latrines. Maternity leave was utilized by only 13% of the women, with 97% receiving merely 0–2 months of leave. Furthermore, a significant majority of women reported the absence of essential amenities, with 80% lacking washing facilities and clothes storage, and 87% without access to canteen services. Alarmingly, 97% of the workers highlighted a lack of training and advancement opportunities, and 89% experienced discriminatory and inadequate wages, contradicting employers’ claims of fair treatment. These findings demonstrate that women in food processing units face severe deficits in essential workplace rights, including training, maternity leave, and childcare, underscoring broader systemic inequalities. The study advocates for comprehensive strategies to enhance legal enforcement and address discriminatory social norms. It urges coordinated efforts among policymakers, organizations, and social workers to create inclusive workplaces, with targeted actions and sustained advocacy needed to improve the industrial landscape and prioritize the well-being of marginalized groups, particularly women in the food processing sector.