Lok Sabha Question No. 1277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Registered/Unregistered Women Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## REGISTERED/UNREGISTERED WOMEN DOMESTIC WORKERS

1277. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

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, State/UT-wise;
- (b)whether the Government is aware of such workers including minors being exploited and ill-treated in various work places/households in the country;
- (c)if so, the details thereof along with the preventive steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard and the measures taken to ensure the rights of such domestic workers;
- (d)whether the Government proposes to formulate a national policy on
- domestic workers; and
- (e)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  being  taken  to  regulate placement agencies particularly with regard to domestic workers?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): No such data is maintained at the Central level. However, as  per  the  National  Sample  Survey(NSSO  Statistics  -2011-  2012,68 th round)  an  estimated  39  lakhs  people    are  employed  as  domestic workers by private household ,of which 26 lakhs are female domestic workers.

(c) to (d): The Central Government has not enacted any separate law to protect the interest of domestic workers. However, the Unorganized Workers'  Social  Security  Act,  2008  has  been  enacted  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. The State Governments 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  funds  allocated    by  the  State Government for this purpose is not centrally maintained. The Central Government does not allocate funds for  any scheme exclusively for domestic  workers.

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.
- (e): An  advisory  has  been  issued  to  the  State  Governments requesting  them  to  take  necessary  steps  for  making  legislations  for protection  of  domestic  workers  from  exploitation  by  unscrupulous agents/placement agencies, as the said subject comes in the domain of the State Governments.

*******