Draft National Policy on Domestic Workers Under Consideration

A draft National Policy on domestic workers is under consideration of the Central Government. The salient features of the draft policy are as under:-

• Inclusion of Domestic Workers  in the existing legislations
• Domestic workers will have the right to register as workers. Such registration will facilitate their access to rights & benefits accruing to them as workers.
• Right to form their own associations , trade unions
• Right to have minimum wages, access to social security, protection from abuse, harassment, violence
• Right to enhance their professional skills
• Protection of Domestic Workers  from abuse and exploitation
• Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals, etc.
• Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of concerned placement agencies

The Central Government has enacted the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 for providing social security to all unorganized workers including domestic workers. The Act provides formulation of social security schemes viz. life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits & old age protection by the central Government. The state Government are mandated under the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 to formulate suitable welfare schemes for unorganized sector workers including domestic workers relating to provident fund, employment injury benefits housing, education schemes for children, skill up gradation of workers, financial assistance & old age homes.

This information was provided by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.