In 1981, the civilian labour force constituted 46.0 percent of the population in Kech. More than three quarter (78.2%) of the male population and a small percentage (1.8%) of the female population participated in the labour force. The urban and rural labour force participation rates were 31.8 and 48.2% respectively. The major occupation group "Agricultural animal husbandry and forestry workers, fishermen and hunters" was adopted by a majority (72.1%) of the labour force. Farmers themselves work in their fields but tenants, locally named as shareeks, are also employed as agricultural labourers. After agriculture, livestock farming is the second important sector of labour force involvement. Other important occupation groups were "production and related workers, transport, equipment operators and labourers". The majority of the labour force in the district is local. Migrant labour is small in number. All the agricultural labour is local. The non-resident workers are involved in tasks needing specific skills, specially in the field of construction work. Cleaning of karezes is done by the farmers themselves but excavation and major cleaning of karezes and kaurjos needs employment of Pushtun labour.

The male labour force is visible only, both in reality and in statistics. However, women are actively involved in various productive sectors, including agriculture, livestock farming, date processing (drying), and handicrafts. Women are allied workers in agriculture and livestock farming.

The main reason behind the invisibility of the female labour force is the socio-cultural milieu of the district. Women of upper income groups are not allowed to work outside their homes. The veil is considered necessary for these women. Women of Darzadas, Golams, and Loris have been working outside their homes but these days they also follow the Baloch traditions as the segregative group boundaries between Balochs and other low status social strata are now merging at societal level. Urbanisation is very slow in the area thus the consequent socio-cultural change, allowing and sometimes necessitating the women’s active participation in the productive labour, is also slow. Male out-migration usually results in communities with women working outside, but in Kech district the average family size exceeds 8 family members which lessens the need for work by women outside their homes. Nonetheless women’s household work itself comprises multiple activities, which keeps them busy all day long.

The education expansion has resulted in the participation of women in the formal sector, specially in education. The Strengthening Participatory Organisation is motivating women of Kech for education and income generation activities through its Village Education Program. Presently women, mainly from outside the district, are occupying jobs as lady doctors, teachers, and educational administrators where they have to deal mostly with girls and women.

Back to Kech