Helping Those Who Help Us: Government Notifies Draft Of India’s First National Policy On Domestic Workers

The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the draft National Policy on Domestic Workers which aims to provide a host of social security benefits to unorganised workers.

One of the main highlights of the policy is that it will facilitate domestic workers to register as unorganised workers under the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. This will help them access and obtain social security benefits like life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, as well as old age protection.

Also, this policy aims to provide domestic workers with the right to form their own associations/unions. Right to minimum wages and the right to enhance skills will also apply to them.

Domestic workers will have access to courts and tribunals for grievance redressal to protect them from abuse and exploitation. The government will also establish a mechanism for the regulation of private placement agencies along with a grievance redressal system.

Current statistics

Though the government has noted that data regarding domestic workers is not maintained at the central level, it has relied on the National Sample Survey (NSSO Statistics-2011-2012, 68th round) statistics to bring out the policy.

According to the survey, around 39 lakh people are employed as domestic workers by private households in the country, out of which 26 lakh are women.

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