National policy for domestic workers underway: MoS Labour Gangwar

New Delhi, Mar 13 (KNN) The Labour Ministry is in the process of coming up with a national policy to protect the interests of domestic workers and also ensure social security provisions, Minister of State for labour Santosh Kumar Gangwar informed Lok Sabha in a written reply.

The Minister said discussions are taking place to formulate a national policy for workers including women in an attempt to protect the domestic workers from abuse, harassment.

The policy would also ensure social security and minimum wages, the Minister added.

Dedicated policy for the sector has been pending for over three years. Earlier the policy was to be presented before the cabinet in 2015.

Informing of the available schemes for the sector, Gangwar said Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 is already in place to provide life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection to the unorganised workers.

Besides, various departments and ministries of the central government run schemes like Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and National Family Benefit Scheme. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has schemes of maternity and health benefit, the Minister added. (With PIB Inputs) (KNN/DA)