There are no statistics determining the number of people engaged in domestic work though official estimates put the number at 4.2 million, probably a gross underestimation. Over 90% of domestic workers are women. Yet, domestic work is not even included in the central government's list of scheduled employment and hence they get no recognition as workers. Domestic work being regarded as informal employment , there is no law governing payment of wages. Labour being a state subject, it is left to respective states to fix minimum wages for domestic work.
Several states such as Karnataka, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala have a law but Delhi, despite being the capital, has no such law and does not acknowledge them as workers.
In Karnataka, the first state to fix a minimum wage for domestic workers, Sister Celia, who heads one of the many domestic workers unions in the state says: "We got the minimum wage law after more than a decade of struggle. We're not happy with the minimum wage fixed for domestic work by the state; we believe it should be higher. But at least we're acknowledged as workers. Only workers have minimum wages."
The debate over norms for setting wages has been endless as there are several variables in their work such as tasks performed, hours of work, skills, the conditions of the labour market and so on. "Some of the women work parttime and in several households. In some they just clean dishes and wash clothes. In others, they may also cook and clean the house. This makes it difficult for us to fix a wage. It also depends on the area, the going-rate there, the woman's bargaining power and so on," explains Anita Kapoor of the Shahri Mahila Kamgar Union in Delhi.
However, she readily agrees they ought to be paid at least the minimum wage, which in Delhi is about Rs 280-370 for every 8-hour day. This would mean at least Rs 35-45 per hour or Rs 8,400- 11,100 per month. Very few domestic workers would make as much. Most work parttime and most aren't paid even the minimum wage for the hours they work. The guidelines laid down for the minimum wage by the 15th Indian Labour Conference (ILC) and the Supreme Court suggest that a minimum wage for 8 hours of work should be high enough to cover all the basic needs of the worker , her/his spouse and two children.
The domestic workers' unions' struggle is not just about wages. It is merely the beginning of their struggle to be recognized as workers to begin with. Their demands include how many days' leave they get, an annual bonus of a month's salary, medical cover, pension for those above 50 years and protection against harassment, both physical and sexual.
In most households, domestic workers labour through the week, and do not get Sunday or any day off. "Not just any day in a week, it has to be on Sunday, just like everyone else gets off to be with their family. And we don't want old clothes or some cheap sari as our annual bonus. They can skip the gifts and box of sweets and just give us one month's pay as bonus," says Geeta who also heads a domestic workers union. There is also a demand for two days of paid leave per month in addition to the weekly offs.
Beyond the issue of wages and social schemes, many of the women complain about the lack of respect associated with being a domestic worker. Many from outside Delhi say they don't tell anyone back home that they work as domestic help. "I have told my family I work in a factory. They look down upon domestic work," says Khushboo from Nalanda district in Bihar.
They feel this lack of respect is reflected in the way they are addressed — as naukrani or bai or kaamwali. "We have names and we should be addressed by our name. We prefer to be referred to as gharelu kaamgar as it implies respect as a worker," says Anita.
Interestingly, they also face censure if they dress up "too much" . "Employers don't like it if we come to work welldressed . They expect us to look like a domestic worker. But just as the woman of the house dresses up to go to her office , for us, their home is our workplace and we also like to dress well when we go out to work. But then we get to hear remarks like "ban dhan ke aati hai" or "heroine banke aati hai" . That's hurtful and unacceptable," says Geeta.
With scattered workplaces that are usually inaccessible to unions and with high rate of attrition and instability, organising domestic workers is difficult. Without being organized as unions the women have found it difficult to get government to address their problems and demands. Even in states with laws there is no clarity as to how employers who violate the law would be penalised. With a labour surplus, especially in urban areas, domestic workers often find it difficult to refuse work when their demands are not met.
THANKLESS LABOUR?
Delhi's going-rate for domestic help way below minimum wages Given their rights, an 8-hour workday should fetch a house-help Rs 280-370 Want to be known as gharelu kaamgar, not naukrani, kamwali or bai Given their rights, an 8-hour workday should fetch a house-help Rs 280-370
Minimum wage for domestic work fixed by law
| State | Minimum wage per hour (in Rs) | Per month (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 16.25- 17.75 | 3380-3692 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 12.50 | 2600 |
| Karnataka | 12.18 | 2553 |
| Bihar | 11.92 | 2478 |
| Rajasthan | 10.15 | 2106 |
| Delhi* | 35-46.25 | 7280-9620 |
*Delhi does not recognize domestic work in its categories of employment and hence has not fixed any minimum wage. This is the minimum wage for any work in Delhi, both unskilled and skilled work.
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