First all-India survey on domestic workers kicks off

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 24, Nov 2021

The first All-India Survey on Domestic Workers was recently flagged off.

About the Survey:

The survey is being carried out by the Labour Bureau.

• It is aimed at estimating the number of domestic workers at the national and State levels, those engaged in

informal employment, and migrant and non-migrant workers; the proportion of domestic workers who stay at their employers’ homes and those who do not; the wages of such workers; and other socio-economic factors.

• The survey would also include details of the number of households with “live-in and live-out” domestic workers and the average number of workers engaged by various kinds of households.

Draft National Policy on domestic workers:

A draft National Policy on domestic workers is under consideration of the Central Government. The policy, if finalised, will benefit 50 lakh domestic workers in the country including maids and drivers amongst others.

Salient features of the policy:

1. Inclusion of Domestic Workers in the existing legislations.
2. Domestic workers will have the right to register as workers. Such registration will facilitate their access to rights & benefits accruing to them as workers.
3. Right to form their own associations, trade unions.
4. Right to have minimum wages, access to social security, protection from abuse, harassment, violence.
5. Right to enhance their professional skills.
6. Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation.
7. Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals, etc.
8. Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of concerned placement agencies.

Measures already being taken:

• The Central Government has enacted the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act,2008 for providing social security to all unorganized workers including domestic workers.
• Social security schemes like National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of rural Development); National Family Benefit Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development); Janani Suraksha Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare), Ayushman Bharat (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
• Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna (AABY) with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised workers for the age group of 18 to 50 years depending upon their eligibility.
• Domestic Workers Sector Skills Council has been established under the Ministry of Skills Development to enable professionalization of domestic workers and enable their career progression.