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National Policy on Domestic Workers

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October 20, 2017

Why in news?

The labour and employment ministry is set to formulate a national policy on domestic workers.

What is the need?

  • India’s domestic workers numbers around 5 million domestic workers of which around 3.5 million are women.
  • They perform tasks that are not recognised as “work”.
  • The absence of legislation in this area led to a thriving industry of illegal private placement agencies.
  • These agencies lure women from rural areas to cities promising them lucrative salary, lifestyle and benefits.
  • Many of the victims are of tribal origin from poor areas and are often subjected to abuses.
  • It includes working around the clock, physical violence, sexual assaults and even threat to their lives.

What will be the highlights of the policy?

  • The policy proposes legal status to domestic workers.
  • It would facilitate recognition of part-time and full-time domestic help as “workers”.
  • It would enable them with the right to register with the state labour department.
  • It also plans to ensure minimum wages and equal remuneration to the domestic workers.

Will a “national policy” help?

  • Implementation - There is no shortage of existing legislation in this matter.
  • Unorganized Social Security Act (USSA), 2008, and Sexual Harassment against Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, are some examples.
  • USSA recognised domestic work as “work” and mandated the formation of a state social security board to recommend, advise, and monitor social welfare schemes for unorganised workers.
  • None of this has been implemented in a large number of states yet.
  • Complexity - According to UN, unlike other forms of labour market activity, domestic work takes place in an unconventional place of work, i.e. the household.
  • Implementations of labour laws such as minimum wages and regularised work hours also remain a challenge.
  • Such regulation is complex because the nature of domestic work is unique compared to other forms of work.
  • The sector lacks effective means to regulate working conditions, for example, through streamlined job descriptions which could be offered through standard contracts.

 

Source: Business Standard

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