Government readies domestic workers policy, proposes Rs 9,000 minimum pay

New Delhi: To protect the interest of domestic workers, the gvernment is readying a national policy that proposes a minimum salary of Rs 9,000 per month for the skilled full-time household helps, along with a host of benefits including social security cover and mandatory leaves. The draft 'National Policy for Domestic Workers', which would be soon moved for approval of the Union Cabinet, also calls for provisions against sexual harassment and bonded labour and recommends compulsory paid leave of 15 days a year as also the maternity leave.

Besides, the Policy provides that the domestic workers be given a right to pursue education, a safe working environment and a grievance redressal mechanism. It also has a provision for mandatory contribution from the employer towards social security of the domestic workers. Workers and employers will also have rights to form groups and engage with each other for 'collective bargaining'. A draft note in this regard, prepared by the Director General Labour Welfare (DGLW), was submitted to Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya last week.

"The Domestic Workers Policy has to be framed. Domestic workers are also subjected to exploitation and therefore the welfare and protection of domestic labour force is very important," said Dattatreya. "The policy framework is on par with the standards of the nternational Labour Organisation. India has adopted the ILO convention on domestic workers and therefore we have to make a policy for this segment of the society," he said. Once it comes into force, the policy will make it binding to enter into a tripartite agreement between the employer, the worker and the intermediary agency that connects the two, a senior Labour Minister official said.

The draft policy recommends minimum monthly wage for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly-skilled categories of the domestic workers."Highly-skilled and those giving full-time service should be eligible to get a salary of at least Rs 9,000 per month," the official said, while adding that the aim of the policy is to empower the domestic workers by making this large workforce a services industry in due course of time.