Lok Sabha Question No. 503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Rajan Baburao  Vichare, Pallab Lochan Das

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 503 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## DOMESTIC WORKERS

†503. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE: SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

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

- (a)whether to formulate policies to protect the interests of domestic workers,  the  Government  has  started  a  survey  of  domestic workers in which the data of 5.5 lakh families across the country will be included;
- (b)if so, the details thereof with reference to Maharashtra, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  rising  number  of complaints  regarding  the  exploitation  of  domestic  workers, brought illegally from Northeast to metropolitan cities and towns, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to tackle the issue;
- (d)whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  act/provision  to mitigate  the  irregularities  in  wages  and  exploitation  faced  by Domestic Workers, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)whether the Government is planning to regulate Private Placement Agencies  for  providing  socioeconomic  securities  to  Domestic Workers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b): Labour  Bureau,  an  attached  office  of  the  Ministry  of Labour  &  Employment,  has  undertaken  an  All-India  Survey  on Domestic  Workers  by  collecting  information  from  the  selected household across States and UTs including Maharashtra, based on multi stage sampling design.

The  draft  report  of  the  All  India  Survey  on  Domestic workers is being finalized.

(c) & (d): The  newly  enacted  Labour  Codes,  viz  Code  on  Wages, 2019, Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 and Social Security Code, 2020 provide for, inter-alia, decent working conditions, wages, occupational Safety, grievances redressal mechanism and social security benefits to all categories of workers  including  domestic  workers.  To  check  exploitation  of domestic workers and regulate the wages, there are various laws like the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Sexual Harassment of Women  at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition And Redressal) Act, 2013, the Prevention of Atrocities (Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1989 and the Indian Penal Code, 1860, in force.

(e): The State/UT Governments have been advised to regulate the functioning including registration of private placement agencies. Complaints relating to such agencies are dealt by respective State Governments/UT Administration under the provisions of IPC or other prevailing  Acts  under  which  such  establishments  are  registered. Committees had been constituted from time to time on the issues pertaining to private placement agencies and the Ministry has issued advisories to State / UT Governments to take all necessary steps to protect the interest of workers by regulating the conduct of private placement agencies.

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