Various benefits like minimum wage, pension, medical insurance, maternity benefits and provident fund for domestic workers are under consideration. A senior government official told ET that various options are being considered, but the final decision will be taken only after the government gets the nod. Accurate census of domestic workers in India.
The Social Security Code classifies domestic workers as “salaried workers”, making them entitled to wage-related benefits once the Code comes into force.
It is important to note that the code incorporates existing social security laws and schemes, including the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF and MP) Act, the Employees’ State Insurance (ESIC) Act and the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act. As a result, the social security schemes provided under these Acts will continue to be available under the Code even after they come into force.
However, it is noteworthy that not all states have made rules under the four labor codes framed by the Central Government in 2019-20. Social Security Code is one of these four codes. To ensure smooth implementation of labor codes, the central government aims to involve all states.
The proposed scheme will outline the distribution of benefits, contribution rates and shares among beneficiaries, employers and the government. The Labor Bureau of the Ministry of Labor and Employment has conducted a comprehensive survey of domestic workers across the country, which is currently being finalized. The government will analyze data and work profiles to ascertain cost implications and develop a framework for the proposed social security benefits.
The survey findings will also shed light on various socio-economic aspects of domestic workers, including household size, social groups and economic activities.
e-shram portal
The government has set up the Aadhaar-seeded e-Shram portal, which acts as a comprehensive database for unorganized workers, including domestic workers. Since its launch in 2021, more than 292 million unorganized workers have been registered on the e-Shram portal as of December 15, 2023.
According to the National Domestic Workers Movement, the official estimate of domestic workers is 4.2 million. However, experts suggest the actual number may be more than 50 million, 75% of whom are women.
Labor economist KR Shyam Sundar highlighted the potential complexities in including domestic workers under the code. He said the code lacks a clear definition of domestic workers, unlike building construction workers and platform workers, which are clearly defined for the purpose of social security benefits.