Lok Sabha Question No. 4100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: National Policy on Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4100 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS

4100. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  frame  a  national  policy  to ensure security for domestic workers or household helpers and to improve their working conditions;
- (b)if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)the steps taken by Government to bring all the unorganized sector workers under the social security schemes? ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam. A draft National Policy for Domestic workers is  under  consideration  of  the  Government.  The  salient  feature of  the Policy is as under:
- i.
- Inclusion of Domestic Workers  in the existing legislations
- ii. Domestic workers will have the right to register as workers with the  State  Labour  Department.  Such  registration  will  facilitate their access to rights & benefits accruing to them as workers.
- iii.
- Right to form their own associations , trade unions
- iv. Right to have  minimum  wages,  access  to  social protection from abuse, harassment, violence
- v.
- Right to enhance their professional skills
- vi. Protection  of  Domestic  Workers    from  abuse  and  exploitation who are recruited to work abroad
- vii.
- Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals, etc.
- viii. Establishment  of  a  mechanism  for  regulation  of  placement agencies.
- security,

(c): In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector including domestic workers, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. The 2008  Act  stipulates  formulation  of  suitable  welfare  schemes  for unorganised workers on matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover, (ii)  health  and maternity benefits, (iii) old age protection and (iv) any other  benefit  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Central  Government through the National Social Security Board. Various Schemes, formulated by the Government to provide social security cover to the unorganized workers, listed in the Schedule I of the above Act are as under:

- i.           Indira  Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  (Ministry  of Rural Development)
- ii.        National Family Benefit Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
- iii.       Janani Suraksha Yojana  (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
- iv.         Handloom  Weavers'  Comprehensive  Welfare  Scheme  (Ministry of Textiles)
- v.        Handicraft  Artisans'  Comprehensive  Welfare  Scheme  (Ministry of Textiles)
- vi.      Pension to Master Craft Persons (Ministry of Textiles)
- vii.     National  Scheme  for  Welfare  of  Fishermen  and  Training  and Extension (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries)
- viii.    Aam Admi Bima Yojana (Department of Financial Services)
- ix. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).

Central  Government  has  also  launched  the  Atal  Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for all citizens especially targeting unorganised workers to provide them comprehensive social security.

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