In the light of repeated incidents of exploitation of domestic workers here, the city government today told the High Court that the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill has been drafted to regulate placement agencies here.
Filing a status report before the bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Manmohan, Delhi government told the bench that 1754 placement agencies have been registered under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act.
It further mentioned that "a bill, The Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, has been drafted after incorporating suggestions of various stakeholders
The bill was also sent to West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa for their views as a lot of domestic workers come from these states. The bill would be placed before the cabinet after Delhi assembly Elections," as per the report.
The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, seeking compulsory registration of placement agencies within one month and compliance of the court's earlier directions on the issue.
Petitioner NGO's counsel Prabhsahay Kaur told the bench that domestic workers were being exploited every day by the placement agencies and inspite of repeated directions of this court, no concrete steps have been taken by the government.
The counsel also cited two recent incidents that happened in city, where one domestic worker was tortured and another one died (both were placed by placement agencies).
As per the plea, on the petitioner's application on August 4, 2011 alleging government's inaction to comply with the court's directions, Delhi government put forth a bill called Delhi Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill.
The plea also said the court had held in March last year that the bill should be enacted within 2-3 months but nothing has been done till date.
"In two sessions and nearly 25 sittings, the bill has not even been tabled. The government is completely non-serious about the bill..." the petitioner NGO said.
