Bringing Home the Law: Getting Domestic Workers within the Ambit of Labour Law

Also read our other article on Bringing Domestic Workers within the Ambit of Labour Law by Shashank Sahay

§  Introduction:-

 Domestic workers carry out a range of household services, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance. In India, It is one of the largest sectors of work in urban areas and an important source of employment for women. These workers are many times deprived even a single day off in the entire month. Some domestic workers are live-in and may be made to

Bringing Domestic Workers within the Ambit of Labour Law

This article is written by Shashank Sahay

INTRODUCTION

Domestic work: A multifaceted but global phenomenon

Domestic labour is one of the oldest and most important occupations for many women in many countries. It is linked to the global history of slavery, colonialism and other forms of servitude. [1]  In its contemporary manifestations, domestic work is a global phenomenon that perpetuates hierarchies based on race, ethnicity, indigenous status, caste and nationality.[2]  Care work in the household – whether performed by paid employees or by unpaid household members as part of their family responsibilities and as a “labour of love”[3] – is quite simply indispensable for the economy outside the household to function. The growing participation of women in the labor force