DGCA Advocates For 25% Women Workforce In Indian Aviation Sector

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has put forth a series of recommendations to enhance gender equality in India’s aviation sector, proposing that at least 25 per cent of the workforce in airports and airlines be women. This announcement was made on Wednesday as part of a broader initiative to promote diversity at various organisational levels within the industry.

The DGCA has advised airports and airlines to actively promote job vacancies across multiple platforms, explicitly encouraging applications from women. Additionally, job postings should provide clear details about flexible working conditions available within the organisations.

To address gender diversity gaps, the DGCA recommends that these organisations establish a monitoring system to evaluate and track progress. This includes regularly reviewing human resources policies to eliminate gender biases and foster a supportive work environment for women.

The DGCA also suggests implementing programmes to facilitate the return of women to the workforce after taking breaks for parenting or other life cycle-related reasons. The language used within the companies should be gender-neutral and non-discriminatory across all functions, further supporting an inclusive workplace culture.

Periodic training sessions should be conducted to raise awareness about inherent gender biases and their impact on decision-making processes. The DGCA acknowledges that the demanding nature of aviation careers can pose challenges for women, particularly those with family commitments. To mitigate these challenges, it recommends policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible scheduling, parental leave, and hybrid work arrangements, to attract and retain female talent.

There has been a notable increase in the enrollment of women pilots in India, with women currently making up approximately 14 per cent of the total flight crew strength in various Indian carriers. Despite this progress, the DGCA emphasizes that women should constitute at least 25 per cent of employees at all levels within airports and airlines.

This advisory aims to either increase the number of women in various positions by 25 per cent based on current metrics or achieve a representation of 25 per cent by 2025. The DGCA's recommendations are part of a broader strategy to ensure a more balanced and inclusive aviation sector in India.