(a) whether the Government proposes to consider in regulating the domestic workers under Minimum Wages;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether placement agencies engage in fraudulent practices by mobilizing large number of vulnerable
and tribal population for work;
(d) if so, whether the Government regulate these agencies under the shops and commercial agencies under
the Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1953;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)
(a) to (f): Based on the report of the Task Force set up to evolve policy framework for domestic workers,
all the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations have been requested to take necessary steps for
inclusion of domestic workers as employment in the schedule and for fixing minimum rates of wages for
domestic workers.
So far, some of the States have included ‘Domestic Workers’ as a scheduled employment under their statute.
On the basis of the information available from State Governments, a statement showing the minimum rates of
wages for Domestic Workers under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is Annexed.
Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, both the Central and State Governments are appropriate
Governments to fix, review, revise and enforce the minimum rates of wages for different categories of workers
employed in the scheduled employments under their respective jurisdictions. ‘Domestic Workers’ falls under the
purview of State sphere, wherein, the State Governments are the appropriate Governments to fix, review, revise
and enforce the minimum rates of wages for domestic workers under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Shops and
Commercial Establishment Act is a State Act, administered by the respective State Governments. Hence the
information on placement agencies is not maintained by this Ministry.