Govt considering national policy for domestic workers

Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 18

Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday informed Rajya Sabha that a draft National Policy on domestic workers is under consideration of the Union government.

In a written reply, he said discussion is under way regarding the proposed policy to protect domestic workers from exploitation. An advisory has also been issued to the state governments and UTs requesting them to take necessary steps for making legislation/policies to protect the workers from exploitation by unscrupulous agent and unregistered placement agencies.

He added that the government has not enacted any separate law to protect the interest of domestic workers. However, it has enacted the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act for providing social security to all unorganised workers, including domestic workers.

The Act provides formulation of social security schemes like life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits and old age protection. The state governments are mandated under it to formulate suitable welfare schemes for unorganised sector workers, including domestic workers relating to, among others, provident fund and employment injury benefits.

Also, the government in 2017 converged he social security scheme of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyot Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised workers, depending upon their eligibility.

The Central government has also launched the National Health Protection Scheme which will cover 10 crore poor and vulnerable families providing coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The scheme will also cater to eligible domestic workers, he added.