Govt plans to bring law for welfare of domestic workers

Government is contemplating bringing a law to regulate the working conditions of domestic workers and providing them social security benefits, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said a memorandum was submitted to the government by the National Platform for Domestic Workers requesting for enactment of a comprehensive legislation for regulating the conditions of work and providing of social security benefits to domestic workers.
"The national policy for domestic workers is under consideration of the government. We are actively considering to taking a draft to the Cabinet," he said during question hour.
The Minister said as per the results of Employment- Unemployment Survey (EUS) of National Sample Survey Organisation, the estimated number of domestic workers employed in the country was 41.3 lakh during 2011-12 of which majority -- 27.9 lakh -- were women.

Dattatreya said so far there is no separate law to protect the interests of domestic workers. However, the Centre has advised the state governments to take necessary steps for registration of placement agencies providing domestic workers.
It has also advised the state governments and union territory administrations to take necessary steps for inclusion of domestic work as employment schedule and for fixing minimum wages for domestic workers.
The government has also enacted the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 for providing social security benefits to unorganised workers including domestic workers, he said.