Minimum hourly wage for domestic workers

Under Minimum Wages Act 1948 both Central and State Government can fix/revise Min. wages in Schedule employment in their respective spheres. Domestic workers fall under the State sphere already included by States viz. AP, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The PIB Release issued on March 3, 2010 reads as under:

Under the provisions of Minimum Wages Act, 1948, both the Central and State Governments can fix/revise minimum wages in the Schedule employment in their respective spheres. Since domestic workers fall under the purview of State sphere, some of the States have included domestic workers as a schedule employment. These States include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. On the basis of information available, the hourly/daily/monthly rates of wages fixed for domestic workers by these States are as under:

 Sl. No.
   

States/Union Territories
   

Minimum Wage (in Rs.)

 
   

State Sphere
   

Per hour
   

Per day
   

Per month
   

Effective date

1
   

Andhra Pradesh
   

12.50
   

100.00
   

2600.00
   

10.12.2007

2
   

Bihar
   

11.92
   

95.30
   

2478.00
   

01.10.2009

3
   

Karnataka
   

9.13

(for 45 minutes)
   

97.44
   

2533.00
   

01.04.2009

4
   

Rajasthan
   

10.15
   

81.00
   

2106.00
   

24.05.2008

5
   

Dadra & Nagar Haveli
   

-
   

117.80
   

-
   

25.09.2007

The Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 for the social security and welfare of unorganised workers which includes domestic workers. The National Social Security Board constituted under the Act has constituted a Sub-Committee of the Board to explore the extension of Social Security Schemes for unorganized workers. The said Sub-Committee recommended domestic workers as one of the categories to be considered for social security. Accordingly, the Government has set-up a Task Force to evolve a policy frame work for domestic workers in the context of regulatory mechanism and providing social security. The Task Force has been examining various issues such as extending coverage of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), health and maternity benefits, life and disability benefit, old age pension, etc., to domestic workers. It has held three meetings on 13th January, 2010, 1st February, 2010 and 25th February, 2010. The Task Force is likely to submit its Report soon.

This information was given by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister Of Labour And Employment in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today