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India: Delhi Gov Will Draft Comprehensive Bill on Protection for Domestic Workers

India: Delhi Gov Will Draft Comprehensive Bill on Protection for Domestic Workers

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by Fish Ip published Sep 24, 2015 12:00 AM
Contributors: Gharelu Kamgar Sangathan, India
Upon advocacy and request by the Delhi Platform of Domestic Workers, the Delhi government is working towards a domestic workers bill. It is planned that it will cover regulation of employment agencies, wage payment, welfare, health, insurance, education of child domestic workers.

Details

 Labour Minister Gopal Rai announced on 23 Sep 2015 that the bill will be drafted after consulting various stakeholders. He said that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India, is keen to provide welfare and protection for domestic workers. 

Earlier this year in July, Delhi government constituted a committee on domestic workers. It is chaired by Smt. Bandana Kumari, Deputy Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly with following as members:-

1. Sh. Naresh Kumar Yadav, MLA
2. Sh. R.K.Gaur, OSD to Minister of Transport/Labour
3. Sh. Krishna Kumar Yadav
4. Sh. Ramendra Kumar, TUCC
5. Sh. SubhashBhatnagar, Nirmala Niketan
6. Smt. Leeza, National Domestic Workers Welfare Trust
7. Smt. Sonia, SEWA
8. Sh. Saroj Kumar Sinha
9. Ms.SuneethaEluri, Rep. of ILO
10. Ms.Bharti Birla, Rep. of ILO
11. Ms. Anita Juneja, Delhi Gharelu Kamgaar Sangathan
12. Sh. K.R. Verma, Joint Labour Commissioner as Member Secretary.

The first committee meeting was held on 17 July 2015. All members held the view that the working conditions of domestic workers are pathetic as there is no specific law to regulate their working conditions.  The following issues have been discussed. 

  • Wage fixation as per Minimum Wage Act;
  • Mode of Payment of Wages
  • Weekly day-offs and leaves
  • Access to social security
  • Skill Development
The committee recommended Delhi government to formulate a Legislation for Regulating Working Conditions of Domestic Workers. Meanwhile existing mechanism, such as the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act 2008, should be revised to include provisions for working conditions, wages, welfare and social security measures and punitive measures for defaulting employers.

More from:
The Economic Times: AAP government plans law for improving working condition of domestic helps, 23 Sep 2015

Source: Fish Ip

Story Type: News

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