Construction workers are one of the most numerous and vulnerable segments of the unorganized sector in India. Women construction workers are not treated on par with men construction workers in wages and promotional opportunities, even though they form nearly half of the construction workforce. This study was conducted on 440 men and 440 women construction workers to find out the factors affecting their wages, the willingness of men workers to train and employ women construction workers as skilled workers, and the willingness of women construction workers to become skilled workers. The findings of the study show that there is a large discrimination in wages and also in promotion of women when compared to men. It has been found that most of the women construction workers, especially workers from rural areas, and literate and young women, are willing to be trained to become skilled workers (masons). The study also reveals that men construction workers, especially from urban areas, are willing not only to train but also give placement to them.

The employment generation in construction industry is phenomenal in India. Infrastructure and housing sector have tremendous growth potential in the next decade. Construction industry should employ about 31 million people per year over the next seven years to sustain the current 8% growth rate (Business Standard, 2007). Construction workers constitute the vulnerable segment of the unorganized sector in India. Even though construction is considered to be one of the principal industries in the country, the workers in the industry still remain unskilled, exploited and discriminated against (Mathew, 2005). These characteristics also influence the practice of gender discrimination, working conditions, social security, health and safety of the workers, especially of the women in this industry. The generation of employment in construction industry has always been lopsided and gender-biased. Though men can progress in their career, women sometimes go without even promotion. Women mostly work and retire as headload workers, carrying bricks, cement, sand and water. There also exists discrimination in the payment of wages.

Although the demand for unskilled labor is dwindling, the demand for skilled construction workers is growing dramatically. This is especially true in urban India, with its significantly higher demand for specifically skilled labor over unskilled or even generally educated labor. This phenomenon has been documented by a significant amount of research within and beyond the Indian context (Chen, 1997; and ILO, 2001). In such an environment, unskilled manual workers in general, and women in particular, will increasingly be eliminated from construction sites.

Construction work is accorded very low social status in India, and a vast majority of women enter the sector out of economic necessity. Most women who come for training to become masons are very open about working in construction purely for economic survival. Many women bring their daughters along for training with the motive of earning a stipend. However, after training, they do not allow their daughters to pursue construction work as a vocation. Hence, it is important to determine the type of women to be trained and not waste precious program resources (Baruah, 2008). This study has attempted to determine the type of women who are willing to be trained and work as masons. This study also aims at determining the factors that affect the wages of men and women construction workers. It also examines the attitudes of women and men construction workers towards women's elevation to higher jobs in the industry. Finally, it describes the ways and means to ensure women empowerment in the industry.

Organizational Behavior Journal, Women Construction Workers, Construction Industry, Housing Sectors, Construction Work, Women Empowerment, Construction Sites, Data Collection Instruments, Multiple Regression Analysis, Logistic Regression Analysis, Domestic Constructions.