The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour & Employment Vishnu Deo Sai has said that no data about domestic workers is maintained at the central level. However, as per National Sample Survey (NSS) Report No. 554: Employment & Unemployment Situation in India, 2011-12, there are about 26.91 lakh domestic workers in the country. The draft of a National Policy for Domestic Workers is under consideration of the Government.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Vishnu Deo Sai said, the Central Government has enacted the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008 for social security of the unorganized workers which include domestic workers. The Government has extended benefit under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to domestic workers. Various labour laws, like the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Employees Compensation Act, 1923, the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 and the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 are also applicable to these domestic workers. The Minister said, whenever any complaint regarding exploitation of domestic workers is received, action is taken as per law of the land.