Domestic workers get no minimum wage: study

Almost 90 per cent of the domestic workers were not paid the monthly minimum wage of 5,574 rupees stipulated by the two state governments.

Hyderabad:  The hard life of domestic workers now have documentary proof as a newly released study shows that almost 90 percent of them work without government stipulated minimum wages and without a weekly day off.

The findings of the study of the personal and family profiles, working conditions and wage administration of domestic workers in 11 towns in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana were discussed at a national workshop that Montfort Social Institute (MSI) in Hyderabad organized Oct. 14.

Almost 90 per cent of the domestic workers were not paid the monthly minimum wage of 5,574 rupeees stipulated by the two state governments. And, 91 per cent of the workers said they had to work all seven days a week, without a weekly off.

While 54 percent of the domestic workers in the 11 towns came from the Backward castes, 41 percent were from the Schedules castes and Scheduled tribes. Other castes accounted for just four percent of the workers.

The study also showed that 77 per cent of the domestic workers were illiterate and 13 percent had primary level of education. It is only one per cent of the workers who had reached the higher secondary level.

Domestic workers are seen to follow national trend in the possession of mobile phones. While 71 percent of the workers surveyed possessed a mobile phone, 61 per cent of their families had cooking gas connection. 43 per cent had electricity connection and also a television in their homes.

They are afraid of speaking about their harassment. While only 21 per cent of the domestic workers said they experienced physical, verbal and mental harassment in their families, 36 per cent refused to answer the question, indicating that the percent of women who face harassment in their families could be much higher.

Interestingly, 79 per cent of those surveyed did not respond to the question posed regarding sexual, verbal, physical and mental harassment at their work place.

The workshop participants agreed that the wealth of data generated from this first ever attempt to gather information on domestic workers in small towns will help for advocacy for policy formulation. It will also be as a tool for the education and mobilization of domestic workers.

Some 75 people including academicians, trade union leaders, social activists, civil society leaders, and NGO representatives from all over India attended the workshop.

Domestic Work is the largest and fastest growing sector for women wage earners in urban India today. While the government estimate is that there are around 10 million domestic workers in the country, those working in the sector say put the number between 30-40 million. India also accounts for a large share of the almost 15 million child domestic workers the world over.

Montfort Social Institute (MSI) is a founding member of the National Platform for Comprehensive Legislation for Domestic Workers, an umbrella of 20 organizations working with domestic workers in the country.

Press Release