Minister of State for Labour Santosh Kumar Gangwar has said that his ministry is working on national policy in order to protect interests of domestic workers which has been pending for almost three years, as the policy was to be presented before the Cabinet in 2015. He noted that the policy aims to expand the scope of existing legislation, policies and schemes to grant domestic workers rights that are enshrined in laws for other category of workers including minimum wage, equal remuneration, etc. He added that the policy also includes social security cover and provisions against sexual harassment and bonded labour.
The minister has stated that among others, the policy envisages to make a provision for a minimum salary of Rs 9,000 per month, compulsory paid leave of 15 days annually and maternity leave benefits to full-time domestic helps. Besides, he noted that the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 is already in place to provide life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection to the unorganised workers. He also mentioned that various departments and ministries of the central government run schemes like Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and National Family Benefit Scheme, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has schemes of maternity and health benefit.
Gangwar further said that the centre has recently converged the social security schemes of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised workers including domestic workers in the age group of 18-50, depending upon eligibility. He pointed out that PMJJBY gives coverage of Rs 2 lakh on death at premium of Rs 330 per annum and PMSBY gives Rs 2 lakh coverage on accidental death besides disability benefits at premium of Rs 12 per annum. He noted that the annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by the Centre and State governments/state nodal agencies. He added that the benefits of these schemes are also available to female domestic workers.