IJSSER

Title: DOMESTIC WORKERS IN INDIA: CHALLENGE OF INCLUSIVITY AND PROSPECT OF FRATERNITY
Authors: Sonika Ahlawat
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Sonika Ahlawat Doctoral Scholar, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New- Delhi
MLA 8 Ahlawat, Sonika. "DOMESTIC WORKERS IN INDIA: CHALLENGE OF INCLUSIVITY AND PROSPECT OF FRATERNITY." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 4, no. 6, June 2019, pp. 4271-4285, ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=325. Accessed June 2019. APA Ahlawat, S. (2019, June). DOMESTIC WORKERS IN INDIA: CHALLENGE OF INCLUSIVITY AND PROSPECT OF FRATERNITY. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 4(6), 4271-4285. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=325 Chicago Ahlawat, Sonika. "DOMESTIC WORKERS IN INDIA: CHALLENGE OF INCLUSIVITY AND PROSPECT OF FRATERNITY." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research4, no. 6 (June 2019), 4271-4285. Accessed June, 2019. ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=325.
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Abstract: The Constitution of India begins with 'We' and bequeaths justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to all the citizens of India without any discrimination. However a new sector, domestic workers, has emerged and is characterized by long and unregulated working hours, employment subject to employer's mercy, and high level of insecurity. This condition impinges on the concept of 'fraternity', that is assuring dignity and rights to the individuals. Around half a million unorganized individuals working as 'domestic help' contribute immensely to the Indian economy and society by liberating the qualified and skilled (mainly housewives) to enter into workforce and contribute to national development. However, while playing a vital role in the household chores, domestic workers remain vulnerable as they are still unorganized and are constituted mainly by migrants and internally displaced people, living mostly in slums in shabby conditions, and remain subject to exploitation in the absence of specific legislative framework to regulate their working conditions. Recently, some measures have been initiated to bring this sector in the legislative ambit, including the Unorganized Social Security Act which defines "wage worker", including the domestic workers. A reality check indicates there is not a single provision in this Act to assure social security to the domestic workers; instead, it excludes them from the provisions of labour laws, such as The Minimum Wages Act, The Payment of Wages Act, The Maternity Benefit Act etc. Currently a Code on Social Security has been passed, which deals with the domestic workers and provides various provisions for their welfare and social protection; however, the devil lies in its implementation. This paper attempts to delineate the legislative provisions, underline the challenges faced by the domestic workers, and outline the policy postures required to adopt an inclusive approach to afford social justice and facilitate their economic and social inclusion as per the spirit of the Constitution.

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