Seeking a better deal for domestic helps all across the country, UPA chairperson, who also heads the National Advisory Council NAC), in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggested that the government should ensure daily minimum wage without sex discrimination, weekly offs and paid annual leave for such workforce.
Mrs Gandhi’s letter has come as a follow-up to the NAC’s detailed recommendation to the government on the proposed policy relating to domestic workers, which was finalised during its April 28th meeting. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has, meanwhile, forwarded the letter to the labour ministry asking it to examine the suggestions.
Sources close to the NAC revealed that the advisory panel has recommended at least 15 days of paid annual leave and a minimum per day wage of `115 for the estimated 45 lakh domestic workers all across the country. “The letter had come to us from the PMO 10 days ago. We have adopted a two-pronged strategy. One is welfare of domestic workers under the various social security schemes and the other is preparing the guidelines for the policy,” labour secretary P. Chaturvedi said. the labour ministry has already sent a Cabinet note for inclusion of domestic workers under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.
The NAC suggested that the policy should have provisions to ensure right to regulated conditions of work, including working within the defined normal hours of work with suitable daily and weekly rest.
Entitlement to paid annual leave and sick leaves and coverage under social security as provided in the Unorganised Sector Social Security Act 200, including maternity benefits, are some other recommendations.