{"id":348481,"date":"2025-10-22T17:47:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T12:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=348481"},"modified":"2025-10-24T09:38:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:08:44","slug":"we-need-a-law-to-protect-domestic-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/we-need-a-law-to-protect-domestic-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"We need a law to protect domestic workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPSC Syllabus Topic:<\/strong> GS Paper 2 –<\/strong>Governance-mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In January, the Supreme Court directed the Union government to frame a comprehensive law on domestic workers\u2019 rights and to set up a committee to design the framework within six months<\/strong>. The current status of the report is unclear. The case that triggered the directive exposed confinement and trafficking and highlighted weak oversight, unsafe conditions, and poor access to remedies. This sets the context for the scale, challenges, and steps needed to protect domestic workers in India. We need a law to protect domestic workers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"We<\/p>\n

Domestic workers and the current status of Domestic Workers in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO ) Domestic Workers Convention<\/strong>, 2011, Article 1:<\/p>\n

(a)<\/strong> The term \u2018domestic work\u2019 <\/strong>means work performed in or for a household or households;<\/p>\n

(b)<\/strong> The term \u2018domestic worker\u2019 means any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship<\/strong>;<\/p>\n

(c)<\/strong> A person who performs domestic work only occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis is not a domestic worker.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Based on everyday working hours and nature of employment, domestic workers are classified into part-time, full-time and live-in workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Categorisation Of Domestic Workers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Category<\/strong><\/td>\nDefinition<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Part-Time Worker<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works for more than one employer for a specified number of daily working hours or performs specific tasks for each of the multiple employers everyday.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Full-Time Worker<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works for a single employer everyday for a specified number of hours, and returns to her\/ his home every day after work.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Live-In Worker<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works full time for a single employer and stays in the premises of the employer or in a dwelling provided by the employer and does not return to her\/his home every day after work.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

source: SPRF<\/p>\n

Status<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • India is estimated to have 4 million\u201390 million<\/strong> domestic workers.<\/li>\n
  • Most are women and girls. A large share belong to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes<\/strong>, which makes them more vulnerable to power imbalances and abuse.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Their work is essential in households and workspaces, but their visibility and bargaining power are low.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • India supported the International Labour Organization Convention No. 189 (2011)<\/strong> on rights of domestic workers but has not ratified it<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Challenges faced by Domestic Workers in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Invisible workplaces and weak oversight: <\/strong>Work happens inside private homes, which atomises workers<\/strong>. Routine inspections are almost impossible. Risks include harassment, abuse, and segregationist practices<\/strong>. Child labour is rampant<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    2. Precarious work patterns: <\/strong>Some work full time for one household; others rotate across many homes for a few hours. This makes minimum wages, fixed hours, and leave<\/strong> hard to set and enforce.<\/li>\n
    3. Migration vulnerability: <\/strong>Many are inter-State<\/strong> or cross-border migrants<\/strong>, needing protections across jurisdictions.<\/li>\n
    4. Legal gaps and weak enforcement<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n