Delhi govt sensitises agencies on domestic helps' security

Concerned over the exploitation of women domestic helps in the city, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in collaboration with Delhi's Labour department today held a sensitization programme for private placement agencies.
"The objective was to make these agencies aware of the provisions of the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Order, 2014 which will be placed in Delhi Assembly soon and made into a law as per court directions," said DCW chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh.
The new set of rules makes it mandatory for agencies to not only register themselves but also keep a registry of all domestic helps employed through them.

Singh stressed that placement agencies should adhere strictly to the provisions of the regulation order for safety, security and welfare of domestic helps as well as their employers.
"It is a matter of serious concern that women are clandestinely brought to Delhi and then sold as house maids for hefty amounts where they are exploited and made to work for long hours and even devoid them of basic facilities like lodging, boarding and their monthly salaries. In some cases these domestic workers are obnoxiously pushed into flesh trade," said Singh.
The Executive Order aims to deter such placement agencies which involve in exploiting women in the name of providing work as domestic helps in return of huge monetary benefits.

Additional Labour Commissioner, Dr Rajender Dhar said that it has become mandatory for the agencies to get themselves registered online and then physically seek licenses from the deputy Labour commissioners stationed in their respective offices at 9 revenue districts of Delhi by furnishing all relevant information.

As per the rules, Dhar said that while seeking the licence the private placement agencies will have to submit all the details about the proposed salary structure along with other details.
"It is also mandatory to pay salaries in bank accounts of domestic helps who have to open it under Jan Dhan Yojna to avoid any fishy tactics by the employers and the agencies.

"In case of any default there will be a penalty of Rs 15,000 straightaway," said Dhar.
Under the act, every placement agency will have to issue identity card to every domestic worker and maintain a register which shows their exact status.
In case the agencies do not adhere to the provisions of the act they would be penalized by way of cancellation of their licenses and necessary action would also be initiated as per the provisions of the proposed law.