Domestic workers in Delhi NCR region | Photo courtesy: The Probe team
Meena (name changed) resides in Kusumpur Pahari and works in the Lajpat Nagar area of Delhi. Her job involves working in three houses, earning approximately 7000 rupees per month. However, she mentions that her salary does not cover her travel expenses from Kusumpur Pahari to Lajpat Nagar. She doesn’t get to take leaves without her salary being deducted, and her wages are insufficient to cover household expenses, including her children’s schooling. Her husband tends to spend what she earns on alcohol, further straining the family’s finances.
"Most domestic workers I know are also victims of domestic abuse. No matter how much we earn, the money is never enough. We have numerous problems but no solutions," states Meena.
Christin Mary, National Coordinator of the National Domestic Workers’ Movement speaks to The Probe’s Rageshree Sengupta
Meena's voice echoes the sentiment of countless domestic workers across India, whose struggles go far beyond their meagre earnings. As an invisible workforce, they silently endure multiple challenges, often without recourse for relief. The absence of proper regulations and formal recognition leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. Despite being the backbone of many households, their status as unskilled labourers often lead to discrimination and a lack of respect for their dignity and rights. The work they perform, though essential, remains undervalued and overlooked.
Currently, the domestic workers in the country are not covered under a strong regulation. The Indian government introduced the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act to provide social security benefits and welfare measures to workers in the unorganised sector. The UWSSA was enacted to address the challenges faced by millions of workers in India's informal economy but the regulation has failed to provide domestic workers social security benefits.
Also Read | Unpaid and Exploited: Sanitation Workers Denied Dignity and Rights
The UWSSA, while a step in the right direction, has fallen short of its promise to safeguard the interests and well-being of domestic workers. Due to the unique nature of their work, often carried out within the confines of private households, domestic workers have faced challenges in gaining formal recognition and protection as employees. Without the safety net of social security, domestic workers find themselves trapped in a cycle of uncertainty and instability. Many face exploitative working conditions, insufficient wages, and a lack of access to basic labour rights.
Neetu has been working as a domestic worker for the past 14 years in Kusumpur Pahari | Photo courtesy: The Probe
For the past 14 years, Neetu has worked in hostels, residential houses, and apartments. Her tasks included sweeping, mopping, dishwashing, and laundry; she works two shifts daily. Despite her efforts in four different homes, she only earns about 6000 rupees a month. However, Neetu is currently unemployed and has lost all her homes. Now, she is actively seeking employment. “I don’t have any money left as I am not working anymore. I have registered on various websites for domestic work and am keeping my fingers crossed,” says Neetu.
Domestic workers, Christin says, constitute a floating population, often moving between households to find work. One significant aspect of the domestic workforce is its overwhelming female representation, making it a crucial sector for women’s economic participation in the country.
Also Read | Beyond Broken Promises: Kusumpur Pahari’s Silent Struggle for Survival
“Since domestic tasks are carried out within the confines of private households, they are not considered traditional workplaces. As a result, domestic workers are not officially recognised as employees and are often categorised as unskilled labour. This lack of formal recognition leaves domestic workers without the protection and benefits accorded to other workers under the labour laws. Because of this, they face various forms of discrimination in terms of wages and working conditions,” rues Christin.
Suman Devi works as a domestic worker in JJ Colony and has been struggling to make ends meet | Photo courtesy: The Probe team
“I work in two shifts, both morning and evening, covering around three houses that I visit twice daily. On an average, I put in about 6 to 8 hours of work everyday, yet my salary is barely around 6000 rupees. Unfortunately, as domestic workers, we do not receive any government assistance, and our problems remain unresolved. Illiteracy further increases our challenges, making it difficult for us to register for various government welfare schemes,” says Suman Devi, a 31-year-old who has been working in JJ Colony for the past six years.
According to Christin, one of the major issues faced by the workers is the lack of entitlement to social security schemes. Only 14 states in India have fixed minimum wages for domestic workers, leaving many without the assurance of fair compensation for their labour, says Christin.
Manju Devi has been working in Sector 17 A Noida for over 20 years as a domestic worker | Photo courtesy: The Probe team
“What is a major problem is that there is no national regulation specifically dedicated to domestic work. The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention No. 189, adopted in 2011, aimed to establish global standards for protecting domestic workers’ rights. However, it has not been ratified by the Indian government, leaving domestic workers without the comprehensive legal framework they deserve. The states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have taken steps in the right direction by establishing welfare boards for domestic workers. These boards serve as registration platforms for domestic workers and provide access to certain social security schemes. However, this progress is limited to a few states, and there is a significant gap in implementing such welfare boards across the country,” explains Christin.
Also Read | Rethinking Drug Regulation In India: Strengthening Oversight To Ensure Patient Safety
Deepali Haider is employed as a househelp, serving in multiple households within Sector 18, Noida. She has been diligently working for the past 22 years, yet her earnings barely amount to a meagre 7000 rupees. She is granted only two weekly offs a month.
Christin asserts that there is a pressing need to designate private homes as legitimate workplaces, a crucial step towards officially recognising domestic workers as formal employees. All states must establish and enforce fixed minimum wages for domestic workers to pay them fairly for their services. Domestic workers should be provided with social security benefits, and the government must conduct awareness programmes to educate domestic workers about their rights and entitlements. There must be a transparent and easily accessible complaint redressal mechanism to address grievances related to wage disputes, harassment, or any other labour-related issues the domestic workers may pace, notes Christin.
“By doing this, employers can be held accountable for any exploitation or mistreatment of domestic workers. For those states that have not yet established a minimum wage, we are calling for swift action to implement such policies. Similarly, in states where minimum wages have already been set, there should be a strong push to ensure that the fixed wages are sufficient and just, commensurate with the invaluable services provided by domestic workers. In addition to fair wages, Provident Fund (PF) and Employee State Insurance (ESI) benefits for the domestic workforce must be provided. The government is making efforts to draft policies. But our demand is to enact legislation as the states are not obliged to implement the policies,” affirms Christin.
Also Read | Make In India: Has The Ambitious Initiative Lived Up To Expectations?
India needs a strong law to protect the rights of domestic workers, as the lack of a unified national regulation has left them vulnerable and unprotected. The absence of a national legislation has resulted in significant disparities in the treatment and welfare of domestic workers across different states.
Domestic workers are the backbone of India's informal economy, play an essential role in the country's socioeconomic fabric, and contribute to the functioning of households and urban life. Yet their voices often remain unheard, and their labour and sacrifices go unnoticed, hidden within the confines of private households.
To ACCESS and SUPPORT our exclusive stories and impactful public interest journalism, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Click on THE PROBE'S LOGO below to subscribe.