Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Labour and Employment addresses concerns regarding the rights of domestic workers in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 135. The response highlights the eShram portal as a national database for unorganized workers, including domestic workers, and the integration of social security schemes through the eShram "One-Stop Solution." It also references existing laws and codes aimed at protecting domestic workers' rights and outlines the government's position on ILO Convention No. 189.
Key Points / Main Content:
eShram Portal and "One-Stop Solution":
* The eShram portal, launched on August 26, 2021, serves as a national database for unorganized workers, including domestic workers, and is seeded with Aadhaar.
* As of July 16, 2025, over 30.94 crore unorganized workers are registered on eShram.
* The eShram "One-Stop Solution," launched on October 21, 2024, integrates various social security welfare schemes, allowing registered workers to access these schemes through a single portal.
* 14 schemes from different Central Ministries/Departments have been integrated with eShram.
Legal Framework and Worker Protection:
* The Code on Wages, 2019, the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020, and the Social Security Code, 2020 provide decent working conditions, wages, occupational safety, grievance redressal, and social security benefits to all workers, including domestic workers.
* Existing laws such as the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and others are in place to check exploitation and regulate wages.
* State/UT Governments have been advised to regulate private placement agencies, with complaints handled by respective State Governments/UT Administrations.
ILO Convention No. 189:
* India has not ratified ILO Convention No. 189 concerning Domestic Workers.
* The Government of India ratifies a Convention only when fully satisfied that domestic laws and practices are in conformity with the relevant ILO Convention.
Impact Analysis:
Unorganized Workers (including Domestic Workers):
* Impact: Access to a centralized platform (eShram) for registration, information on social security schemes, and potentially streamlined access to benefits.
* Action Required: Register on the eShram portal to avail benefits and stay informed about available schemes.
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsibility to regulate private placement agencies and address complaints related to them.
* Action Required: Enforce existing laws and regulations related to private placement agencies and address worker complaints effectively.
Ministry of Labour and Employment:
* Impact: Oversight of the eShram portal and integration of social security schemes. Continued monitoring of the legal framework and its effectiveness in protecting domestic workers' rights.
* Action Required: Maintain and update the eShram portal, integrate more social security schemes, and assess the need for further legislative or regulatory measures.
Key Entities Referenced
eShram portal: A National Database of the Unorganised Workers, including domestic workers, seeded with Aadhaar, launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
International Labour Organisation: An international organization dealing with labour issues.
ILO Convention No. 189: International Labour Organisation's Domestic Worker Convention No. 189 concerning Domestic Workers.
Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008: An Indian law providing for the social security and welfare of unorganised workers.
Minimum Wages Act, 1948: An Indian law that mandates minimum wages for workers in certain industries.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The Indian government ministry responsible for labour and employment policies.
Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi): A micro-credit scheme to provide affordable loans to street vendors.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): An Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 135
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
RIGHTS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
135. SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government has maintained data on complaints raised
by the domestic workers regarding underpayment, exploitation and
denial of basic labour rights across the country ;
(b)if so, the details thereof along with the number of complaints received
during the last ten years State/UT and year-wise and if not, whether
the Government is planning to establish such a mechanism to
facilitate them;
(c)whether the Government has taken any steps to formulate a central
legislation to regulate wages, working conditions, social security and
grievance redressal for domestic workers and if so, the details
thereof;
(d)whether the Government is recognises that in the absence of any
enforceable legal framework, domestic workers are excluded from
minimum wage laws and are unable to seek redress for abuse or non-
payment; and
(e)whether the Government intends to ratify International Labour
Organisation's Domestic Worker (ILO) Convention No. 189 and if not,
the reasons for delay?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (e): Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched on 26th
August, 2021 the eShram portal which is a National Database of the
Unorganised Workers, including domestic workers, seeded with
Aadhaar. The portal has been made available to the States/ UTs for
registration of various categories of unorganized workers on eShram
portal. The portal is meant to register and support the unorganized
workers by providing them Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-
declaration basis. As on 16.07.2025, over 30.94 crore unorganized
workers, including domestic workers, are registered on eShram.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
In keeping with the vision of the Budget Announcement,
2024- 25, on developing eShram as a "One-Stop-Solution" for
unorganized workers to have access to various social security schemes,
Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the eShram-"One-Stop-
Solution" on 21st October 2024. eShram-"One-Stop-Solution" entails
integration of different social security/ welfare schemes at single portal
i.e. eShram. This enables unorganised workers, including domestic
workers, registered on eShram to access social security schemes and
see benefits availed by them so far, through eShram.
So far, 14 schemes of different Central Ministries/
Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the eShram
including Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM-
SVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan
Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), National Family Benefit
Scheme (NFBS), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin
(PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-
PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) and Pradhan
Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan
Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY).
The newly enacted Labour Codes, viz Code on Wages, 2019,
Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 and
Social Security Code, 2020 provide for, inter-alia, decent working
conditions, wages, occupational Safety, grievances redressal
mechanism and social security benefits to all categories of workers
including domestic workers. To check exploitation of domestic workers
and regulate the wages, there are various laws like the Unorganised
Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition And
Redressal) Act, 2013, the Prevention of Atrocities (Scheduled Caste and
Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1989 and the
BNS, 2023, in force.
The State/UT Governments have been advised to regulate
the functioning including registration of private placement agencies.
Complaints relating to such agencies are dealt by respective State
Governments/UT Administration under the provisions of BNS or other
prevailing Acts under which such establishments are registered.
Committees had been constituted from time to time on the issues
pertaining to private placement agencies and the Ministry has issued
advisories to State / UT Governments to take all necessary steps to
protect the interest of workers by regulating the conduct of private
placement agencies.
Contd..3/-:: 3 ::
India has not ratified ILO Convention No.189 concerning
Domestic Workers. It has always been the practice in India that
Government of India ratify a Convention when Government of India is
fully satisfied that our laws and practices are in conformity with the
relevant ILO Convention.
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