Wed Jan 29 16:37:05 UTC 2025: **Supreme Court Orders Law to Protect India’s Domestic Workers**
NEW DELHI, January 29, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union government to draft legislation protecting the country’s largely exploited and vulnerable domestic workers. The Court’s decision follows a case highlighting the years of abuse suffered by an impoverished tribal woman working in the national capital.
The Court cited a “legal vacuum” regarding the rights and protection of domestic workers, leading to widespread exploitation including low wages, unsafe working conditions, and excessive hours. The judgment noted the prevalence of such abuse across India.
To address this, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Labour, Women and Child Development, Law and Justice, and Social Justice and Empowerment. This committee, tasked with recommending a legal framework for the protection and regulation of domestic workers’ rights, is required to submit its report within six months. The government will then decide on the necessity of a new law.
The Court highlighted that while a Central law is lacking, states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Kerala have already implemented their own legislation to protect domestic workers, establishing specialized bodies to oversee social security benefits and other worker protections.
Past attempts to create a national law, including bills dating back to 1959 and 2017, have failed to pass. The Court emphasized the growing need for domestic workers due to rapid urbanization and highlighted the disproportionate vulnerability of workers often from marginalized communities. The judgment underscored the urgent need for comprehensive legal protection for this vital, yet frequently abused, workforce.
First Piper 