The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 has been enacted to provide social security to the unorganised sector workers including domestic workers. The Act provides for formulation of social security schemes viz. life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection and any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government.
The State Governments will formulate suitable welfare schemes for unorganised sector workers relating to provident fund, employment injury benefit, housing, educational schemes for children, skill upgradation of workers, funeral assistance and old age homes. The occupation of ‘domestic work’ falls in the State Sector.
The service conditions etc. of domestic workers differ from household to household and there is also no direct employer/employee relationship. As such, the Government has not formulated any specific guidelines to regulate their working conditions. However, various labour laws, like the Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923; the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 and the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 are directly or indirectly applicable to these workers.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Harish Rawat in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
