Draft National Policy on Domestic Workers under consideration: Labour Ministry

New Delhi, June 25 (KNN) The Ministry of Labour and Employment is considering a National Policy for Domestic Workers in a bid to include them in the existing legislations, said Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment in a reply to Lok Sabha.

He said, “A draft National Policy on domestic workers is under consideration of the Central Government.”

Besides inclusion of domestic workers in the existing legislations, the policy will give them the right to enhance their professional skills, Right to form their own associations, trade unions, Right to have minimum wages, access to social security.

In addition to that, domestic workers will have the right to register as workers. Such registrations would enable their access to rights & benefits accruing to them as workers.

There would be protection for them against abuse and exploitation while they would have easy access to courts, tribunals etc.

The Department is also looking to establish a mechanism for regulation of concerned placement agencies which would create order in the un-organized working classes, said Gangwar.

He said 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 formulation of social security schemes viz. life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits & old age protection by the central Government.

“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,” he added. (KNN/K)