Domestic Workers - Use and Abuse

As per official estimates, some 4.75 million workers are employed in India, as domestic workers.

But some NGO estimates that this figure is more like 20 % of total Indian workforce. If true, that would number over 100 million .

Recently, under ILO ( International Labor Organization ), India and many other countries signed a convention to improve the lives of such domestic workers.

The Convention covers  :

Ø            Minimum wages payable

Ø            Working hours

Ø            Weekly rest day

Ø            Overtime wages

Ø            Terms of employment

Ø            Social security

Ø            Maternity protection

Ø            Regulation of private employment agencies

Ø            Complaint investigation

Ø            Special measures for migrant workers    etc.

Ravi Wig, president of Employers Federation of India, voted against the convention in Geneva, saying :

“ I think, the first requirement is employment generation in a country where 25 crore ( 250 million ) people are unemployed. The best social security is to give a man, a job. “

( as reported in Times of India / June 27, 2011 )

Baijnath Rai, general secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, who was the Indian representative of workers at Geneva, says :

“  Even if the government ratifies the convention fast, it would take the law at least one-and-half year to come into effect. Just think, of the 188 conventions that India has ratified, it has implemented only 43 so far. “

At this rate, domestic workers in India may not see much difference in their lot for the next few decades !

With regards

hemen  parekh