Lok Sabha Question No. 4734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Women Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4734 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## WOMEN DOMESTIC WORKERS

## 4734. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

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

- (a)the total number of registered/unregistered women domestic workers
- including minors in the country;
- (b)whether  many  of  the  women  domestic  workers  are  sexually  abused and not paid minimum wages, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to provide minimum wages;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  implemented  the  standards  set  by  the International Labour Conference for the women domestic workers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)whether many of the domestic women workers are undergoing a lot of difficulty  due  to  non-availability  of  social  security  schemes,  if  so, whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  necessary  action  in  the
- matter; and
- (e)whether the Government also proposes to extend insurance cover to women domestic workers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No such data is maintained at Central level. However, as per the  National  Sample  Survey  (NSSO  Statistics-2011-2012,  68th  round) estimates, 39 lakhs people are employed as domestic workers by private households, of which 13 lakh are male and 26 lakh are female domestic workers.
- (b): Whenever any such incident is brought into the knowledge of the Government action is taken as per prevalent rules in this regard.

(c) to (e): 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  for 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.

The Central Government in 2017 converged the social security scheme 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,  depending  upon  their  eligibility.  The  converged PMJJBY/PMSBY scheme is for the beneficiaries in the age group 18-50 years and provides for coverage of Rs. 2 lakh, in case of natural death and Rs. 4 lakh, in case of accidental death. The converged schemes are being  implemented  through  Life  Insurance  Corporation  of  India.  A premium of Rs.342/-  (330+12)  per  annum  is  required  to  be  paid  for  the converged schemes. The premium is shared between the State Government  and  the  Central  Government  in  the  ratio  of  50:50.  Around 2.83 crore beneficiaries have been covered under this scheme.

The  Central  Government  has  also  launched  Pradhan  Mantri Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (PM-JAY)  which    will    cover  10.74  crore  poor  and vulnerable families providing  coverage up to Rs. 5 Lakhs  per family  per year    for  secondary  and    tertiary  medical  care  &  hospitalization.  This scheme will also cater to eligible domestic workers.

The  Central  Government  has  also  introduced  a  pension scheme i.e. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana w.e.f. 15.02.2019 for unorganized workers who are mostly engaged as rickshaw pullers,  street  vendors,  mid-day  meal  workers,  head  loaders,  brick  kiln workers,  cobblers,  rag  pickers,  domestic  workers,  washer  men,  homebased workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio-visual workers or in similar  other  occupations.  Each  eligible  unorganized  worker  including domestic  worker  registered  under  PM-SYM  Scheme  and  who  makes regular monthly age-specific contribution ranging from Rs.55/- to Rs.200/will  receive  an  assured  minimum  pension  of  Rs.3,000/-  per  month  after attaining the age of 60 years. The Central Government contributes equal amount as contributed by subscriber towards the pension fund. On the death of the beneficiary during the receipt of pension, the spouse will get 50 per cent of the pension.

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