Welfare of Domestic Workers

The Government set-up a Task Force to evolve a policy frame work for domestic workers in the context of regulatory mechanism and providing social security. The Task Force has submitted its first report which makes the following recommendations:

i) Extension of the welfare schemes to the domestic workers including Health and Maternity benefit, Death and Disability benefit and old age benefits.

ii) Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) should be the first welfare scheme to be extended to the domestic workers. The smart cards used under RSBY can later be used to load other welfare schemes rolled out for domestic workers.

iii) Domestic workers should be identified and registered by the State Labour Department.

iv) The domestic work should be included in the Central List of scheduled employment vide a notification under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for fixation and enforcement of minimum wages in respect of domestic workers. The State Governments which have not fixed minimum wages for domestic work should fix minimum rates of wages for domestic workers.

v) Mandatory registration of all placement agencies and individuals providing placement, sourcing and recruitment service relating to domestic work under Shops and Establishment Act.

vi) Formulation of National Policy for the Domestic Workers.

vii) Scaling up of the skill and re-skill training programme initiated by International Labour Organisation.

The proposal to extend health insurance scheme viz. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to domestic workers is under consideration of the Government.

The State Governments have been asked to take necessary steps for registration of placement agencies providing domestic workers.