Domestic Workers Demand Action as Supreme Court Directive Ignored

Hyderabad, 14 June 2025 — As the world marks International Domestic Workers Day on 16 June, the National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW) has renewed its call for urgent legislative action to safeguard the rights of domestic workers in India.

Fourteen years ago, the International Labour Organisation adopted the ‘Decent Work for Domestic Workers’ Convention to protect their rights and welfare. While India is a signatory to the treaty, it has yet to enact legislation in line with the convention.

On 29 January 2025, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment delivered by a division bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Bhuyan (SLP Criminal No. 8777122), acknowledged the systemic exploitation of domestic workers and identified the absence of national-level legislation as a major cause of their continued vulnerability. The Court directed the Central Government to frame comprehensive legislation within six months, urging the Ministry of Labour and Employment to collaborate with other ministries and experts to draft the law.

Despite the directive, the Central Government has yet to initiate the legislative process.

In response, the NPDW has launched a nationwide campaign anchored on two key demands:

1. Enactment of a comprehensive legislation for domestic workers.

2. Immediate implementation of the Supreme Court order.

The need is particularly urgent in Telangana, home to over 11 lakh domestic workers. The NPDW and trade unions are urging the State Assembly to adopt a bill to regulate and protect domestic workers.

An estimated 30 million domestic workers operate in India’s informal sector, with women constituting 80%—many from marginalised backgrounds. Yet, domestic workers remain excluded from major labour laws, including the Minimum Wages Act (1948) and the Equal Remuneration Act (1976), except in a few states. The recent labour codes passed by Parliament also overlook their needs.

A 2018 survey found 29% of domestic workers had faced sexual harassment, though only 2% left their jobs due to fear of stigma or income loss. In 2023 alone, over 4,000 cases of violence against domestic workers were reported.

A 2022 Telangana survey revealed that 84% of domestic workers earn below minimum wage. Most work long hours without breaks, overtime pay, or social security benefits such as health insurance or pensions.

The NPDW has charted an action plan that includes meeting lawmakers, launching a postcard campaign, district-level mobilisation, PILs, and national and state-level public hearings.

The NPDW calls on the media to highlight this pressing issue in the interest of justice.

Source : National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW)