Context:
The Supreme Court has called for making the long standing exploitation of domestic workers the thing of the past by way of formulating a comprehensive legal framework that safeguards their rights.
Domestic Workers
Domestic workers are individuals who provide service to private households, such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for children. They can be full-time or part-time, and may even live in or outside the employer’s house.
What do domestic workers do?
- Cleaning
- Cooking
- Washing and ironing clothes
- Caring for children, the elderly, or sick people
- Gardening
What are the challenges domestic workers face?
- They are usually denied legal and social rights.
- They are usually exposed to class, race, ethnicity, or gender-based violence and discrimination.
- They are usually not recognized as workers in some countries.
What is a domestic worker according to the International Labour Organization?
- The International Labour Organization defines a domestic worker as any person who performs domestic work in an employment relationship.
Highlights of the Judgment
- Mass Exploitation due to Legal Void
- Domestic workers lack legal protection leaving them vulnerable to low wages hazardous work conditions and excessive hours.
- The Court noted that while multiple bills were proposed from 1959 to 2017 none were enacted.
Directive for Government Action
- The Centre must establish an inter ministerial committee consisting of the Labour Women Child Development Law Justice and Social Justice Empowerment Ministries members.
- The committee will have six months to submit its report with proposals for a possible national law.
Lessons from Progressive State Laws
- Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala have already enacted dedicated laws for domestic workers offering social security benefits maternity aid education assistance and medical reimbursement.
Growing Demand Rising Vulnerability
- With urbanization surging the need for domestic workers is higher than ever.
- Many belong to marginalized communities SC/ST,OBC,EWS making them easy targets for abuse.
