Question : Harassment of Domestic Workers

(a)whether the abuse/mistreatment/atrocities/violence/harassment/ sexual harassment of the domestic workers/helps by the employers Recruitment Agencies has increased during each of the last three years and the current year in the absence of centralised legislation to protect their rights in the country;
(b)if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the number of such cases reported during the said period, State/UT-wise;
(c)whether the Government proposes to enact a Centralised Legislation in this regard;
(d)if so, the salient features of such legislation along with the time by which such legislation is likely to be enacted; and
(e)the other corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government to protect the interests of domestic workers/helps in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): No such information is available at Central level.
(b): The Law & Order is a State Subject; it is primarily the responsibility of the State Government to take necessary action for protecting people including the domestic workers in the State. The State Government is empowered to enact legislation for domestic workers for their protection.
Contd..2/-

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(c): No madam, the National Policy for Domestic Workers is under consideration of the Government.

(d): The salient features of the National Policy for domestic workers have not been finalized so far and the finalization of the Policy may take some more time.

(e): The Central Government has enacted the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008 for the social security of unorganized workers which include domestic workers also. In addition to this, various labour laws, like the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Employee Compensation Act, 1923, the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 and Inter-State Migrant Workmen (RECS) Act, 1979 are directly or indirectly applicable to these workers.


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