The economic crisis caused due to COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound detrimental effect on most people across the globe. However, it has impacted men and women very differently.
Women are more likely to work in health care, unpaid care, and domestic work, making them more susceptible to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women still earn less than men for equally valued jobs, bear more of the childcare burden, and face a higher risk of violence in their homes. The pandemic has widened the gender gap in labour force participation, risking decades of progress for women as workers and entrepreneurs.
According to a report by McKinsey & Company, women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable during the pandemic than that of men. Oxfam India reported 17 million women lost jobs during April 2020, which resulted in an eight per cent (218 billion) loss to India’s GDP.
The World Economic Forum has said that it is crucial to keep women at the centre of the economic recovery post the pandemic. Among many forces who are working to address this, is CEAT tyres who with their unique initiative is opening up new avenues for women.
CEAT Tyres’ All-Women Operated Customer Service Centres
CEAT Tyres has announced the opening of all-women operated customer service centre Shoppes at Bhatinda in Punjab and said it plans to set up such outlets pan-India in the next few months. The all-women CEAT Shoppes include a women workforce for all service-related assistance to customers. This also includes manual jobs like wheel changing, balancing and operating various machinery to service a vehicle.
CEAT had earlier said that these service outlets will work as full-fledged customer service centres. The first of such Shoppes has been opened in Bhatinda followed by the introduction of 10 Shoppes in the next few months across India. The press release from the company said that CEAT has been offering an equal and fair opportunity to women in every field including manufacturing plants. From shop-floor engineers to leadership roles, CEAT has a diversified female workforce taking up challenging roles and growing in their respective fields.
Amit Tolani, Chief Marketing Officer, CEAT has said, “The all Women CEAT Shoppe is an industry-first initiative which further reiterates our commitment to allow women to grow and make a mark in the Tyre Industry which is predominantly male-driven business.”
“The initiative will not only provide financial stability to women but will inspire many others to join this industry as the company plans to expand its footprints across India with many more such outlets in the months to come,” he added.
CEAT will be investing in providing end-to-end training to the women running these outlets. With over 300 Shoppes in India, these outlets will serve as authorised one-stop shops for vehicular assistance for sales and service to customers.
