Lok Sabha Question No. 4354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: National Policy on Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4354 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019

## NATIONAL POLICY ON DOMESTIC WORKERS

4354. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

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

- (a)the total number  of registered and unregistered domestic including women in the country, State/UT-wise;
- workers
- (b)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  a  national  policy  or introduce  any  legislation  specially  to  protect  domestic  workers  in  the country;
- (c)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by which the said policy is likely to be formulated and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)whether the Government has also any proposal to provide social security to such workers;
- (e)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f)the  various  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the  rights  of
- such domestic workers and to check their exploitation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): No such data is  maintained at the Central level. However as per the National Sample Survey(NSSO Statsitics-2011-2012,68th round) according  to  which  estimated  39  lakhs  people  are  employed  as  domestic workers  by  private  households,  of  which    26  lakhs  are  female  domestic workers.
- (b) to (f): The Ministry of Labour & Employment is considering to formulate a National Policy on Domestic Workers  which is in the  draft stage.   The salient features of the proposed draft National Policy on Domestic Workers are as under:-
- (i)  Inclusion of Domestic Workers  in the existing legislations
- (ii) Domestic workers will have the right to register as unorganized   workers.
- Such registration will facilitate their access to rights & benefits.
- (iii) Right to form their own associations/unions

- (iv) Right to minimum wages, access to social security
- (v)  Right to enhance their skills
- (vi) Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation
- (vii)Domestic  Workers  to  have  access  to  courts,  tribunals  for  grievance
- redressal
- (viii)  Establishment  of  a  mechanism  for  regulation  of  private  placement agencies.
- (ix) establishment of a grievance redressal system for domestic  workers.

The  Central  Government  is  already  implementing  Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, to provide social security relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection to the unorganised workers including domestic workers. Various Ministries/Departments  of  the  Central  Government  are  implementing  such social security schemes like National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of Rural  Development);  National  Family  Benefit  Scheme  (Ministry  of  Rural Development);  Janani  Suraksha  Yojana  (Ministry  of  Health  and  Family Welfare),  Ayushman  Bharat  (Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare)  .    In addition to the above welfare schemes, the Central Government has recently converged the social security schemes of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised  workers  for  the  age  group  of  18  to  50  years  depending  upon their eligibility. Converged PMJJBY gives coverage of Rs2 lakhs on death at premium  of  Rs.330/-  per  annum  for  an  age  span  from  18  to  50  years. Converged  PMSBY  gives  coverage  of  Rs.2  lakhs  on  accidental  death  and disability  at  premium  of  Rs.12  per  annum.  These  converged  schemes  of PMJJBY/PMSBY are being implemented by Ministry of Labour & Employment through Life Insurance Corporation of India. The annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by the Central Government and the State Governments.Domestic Workers  have  also  been  included  as  a  specific  category  of  workers  (with home as the workplace) in the Sexual Harassment of women at  workplace (Prevention,  Prohibition  and  Redressal)  Act  (2013).In  several  States,  trade unions  are  organizing  domestic  workers  and  unions  have  been  registered exclusively for domestic workers.

Domestic  Workers  Sector  Skills  Council  has  been  established of under Ministry of Skills  Development to enable professionalization domestic workers and enable their career progression.

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