{"id":57258,"date":"2025-10-22T19:05:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T13:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=57258"},"modified":"2025-10-24T11:52:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T06:22:48","slug":"law-to-protect-domestic-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/22-10-2025\/law-to-protect-domestic-workers","title":{"rendered":"We Need a Law to Protect Domestic Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Society; GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supreme Court of India&#8217;s directive to the Union government to enact a comprehensive law outlining the rights of domestic workers and to establish a committee for drafting the legislative framework remains shrouded in uncertainty, and progress remains slow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Status of Domestic Workers in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s domestic workforce is vast \u2014 estimates range from <strong>4 million to 90 million workers<\/strong>. The majority are women and girls, many from <strong>Scheduled Caste (SC)<\/strong> and <strong>Scheduled Tribe (ST)<\/strong> communities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Their marginalised backgrounds and the private nature of domestic work expose them to <strong>harassment, exploitation, and abuse<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the <strong>Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment<\/strong>, there are <strong>over 30.94 crore unorganized workers, including domestic workers<\/strong>, who are registered on the <strong>eShram portal<\/strong> as of July 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Work Conditions:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many work in isolation, often in multiple households.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of oversight makes workplace inspections nearly impossible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Child labour and trafficking<\/strong> remain rampant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employment is largely unregulated and mediated by exploitative agencies or brokers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Gaps in Protection for Domestic Workers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lack of Comprehensive Legislation<\/strong>: India does not have a national law specifically protecting domestic workers.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Domestic workers are often excluded from minimum wage laws, maternity benefits, and social security schemes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many work without contracts, making it difficult to claim rights or report abuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Policy Failure:<\/strong> The <strong>National Platform for Domestic Workers (NPDW)<\/strong>, founded in 2012, drafted the <strong>Domestic Workers (Regulation of Work and Social Security) Bill, 2017<\/strong>, but it was <strong>never enacted.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gender and Caste Vulnerabilities:<\/strong> Around 80% of domestic workers are women, many from SCs &amp; STs, making them more vulnerable to exploitation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unpaid and Invisible Labor:<\/strong> According to the <strong>Time Use Survey<\/strong>, women spend over 305 minutes daily on unpaid domestic services.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This unpaid labor is often unrecognized, limiting women&#8217;s access to paid employment and financial autonomy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access to Social Infrastructure:<\/strong> Domestic workers are often excluded from urban planning, lacking access to housing, healthcare, and sanitation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Health and Safety Concerns:<\/strong> During the pandemic, many domestic workers struggled to access vaccines due to high costs and lack of availability at government centers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Workforce Participation Gaps:<\/strong> Despite being a large segment of the labor force, women\u2019s participation remains <strong>stagnant at 26%<\/strong>, with domestic work often being <strong>informal and underpaid.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Standard:<\/strong> The <strong>ILO\u2019s Convention 189 (2011)<\/strong> established <strong>global standards for domestic workers\u2019 rights<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India voted in favour <\/strong>but has <strong>not ratified<\/strong> the convention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related Government Initiatives &amp; Efforts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>eShram Portal (2021):<\/strong> Aims to register unorganized workers, including domestic workers.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provides a <strong>Universal Account Number (UAN)<\/strong> for access to social security schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Draft National Policy:<\/strong> The Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment is considering a <strong>National Policy for Domestic Workers,<\/strong> which includes:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Right to register as unorganized workers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimum wages and social security;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protection from abuse and exploitation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access to courts and grievance mechanisms;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employment Generation Schemes:<\/strong> Programs like<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-06-2022\/atmanirbhar-bharat-rozgar-yojana\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-06-2022\/atmanirbhar-bharat-rozgar-yojana\"> <strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)<\/strong> <\/a>aim to incentivize employment and formalize labor, indirectly benefiting domestic workers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW):<\/strong> On International Domestic Workers Day (June 16, 2025), NPDW demanded:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A national law for the estimated 30 million domestic workers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inclusion in formal labor protections;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Case Studies: State-Level Initiatives<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Tamil Nadu: <\/strong>Operates a <strong>Welfare Board<\/strong> under the <em>Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Act, 1982<\/em>.<br>1. Registered workers receive <strong>pensions, maternity benefits, and education aid<\/strong>.<br>2. Despite a <strong>minimum wage of \u20b937\u2013\u20b939\/hour<\/strong>, most earn far less.<br>3. Only a <strong>small fraction<\/strong> of workers are registered.<br>4. The Madurai Bench of the High Court has urged the State to draft <strong>special legislation<\/strong> for domestic workers.<br>&#8211; <strong>Karnataka: <\/strong>The <strong>Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025<\/strong> is a promising development. Provisions include:<br>1. <strong>Mandatory registration<\/strong> of employers and workers.<br>2. <strong>Written contracts<\/strong> specifying wages and hours.<br>3. <strong>Minimum wages, overtime pay, and weekly holidays.<\/strong><br>4. Employer contributions of <strong>5% of wages<\/strong> to a welfare fund.<br>&#8211; These state models illustrate progress but highlight the need for <strong>uniform national standards<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Legislative Framework: <\/strong>A <strong>comprehensive national law<\/strong> should consolidate protections across States.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All States must stipulate and regularly <strong>update minimum wages<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Registration of <strong>employers, workers, and agencies<\/strong> should be compulsory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>tripartite board<\/strong> (employers, employees, State) should issue and maintain <strong>workbooks<\/strong> recording employment details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access to Justice and Safety: <\/strong>Local-level <strong>complaints committees<\/strong> under the <strong><em>Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act<\/em><\/strong> should be extended to <strong>panchayats and urban bodies<\/strong> for accessibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Protection and Housing: <\/strong>Domestic workers deserve <strong>continuous welfare support<\/strong>, not just during crises.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Housing and social security<\/strong> should form part of long-term protective measures, especially for migrant workers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> Discuss the need for a comprehensive national law to protect domestic workers in India. Examine the socio-economic vulnerabilities faced by domestic workers and evaluate the role of legal recognition in ensuring their dignity and rights.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/we-need-a-law-to-protect-domestic-workers\/article70187536.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-22-October-2025.PDF.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Supreme Court of India&#8217;s directive to the Union government to enact a comprehensive law outlining the rights of domestic workers and to establish a committee for drafting the legislative framework remains shrouded in uncertainty, and progress remains slow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":57269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/law-to-protect-domestic-workers.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57258"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57413,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57258\/revisions\/57413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}