Despite multiple attempts at reform, domestic workers in India continue to face abuse and exploitation without adequate protection under the law. The societal caste dynamics, coupled with a lack of governmental action, exacerbate these challenges, putting millions of workers at risk.
India’s Struggle to Protect Domestic Workers Amid Decades of Abuse
India’s Struggle to Protect Domestic Workers Amid Decades of Abuse
An exploration of the systemic issues facing domestic workers in India and the lack of legal protections leading to ongoing exploitation.
India has long been home to a vast number of domestic workers, predominantly women, who experience rampant abuse and exploitation. Smitha, a domestic helper from Delhi, shares a troubling episode from her 28-year career in which she was physically assaulted by her employer. As a Dalit woman, Smitha endured discrimination and ultimately received a meager monthly wage of 1,000 rupees (approximately $11) after intervention from a sympathetic family. Her reluctance to approach law enforcement underscores a pervasive belief among domestic workers that justice is unattainable.
Recent discussions at India's Supreme Court highlight the ongoing concern surrounding the rights of domestic workers and the urgent need for legal protections. However, despite various advocacy efforts and proposed legislation over the years—including failed attempts in 2008 and 2016 to register domestic workers and enhance their working conditions—little progress has been made.
With the Indian workforce comprising an estimated 4.75 million domestic workers, the International Labour Organization (ILO) posits that the actual number lies between 20 and 80 million. The disparity stems from a lack of recognition of domestic work as formal employment; thus, these workers remain outside social protections such as minimum wage laws and workplace safety standards.
Several Indian states have instituted minimum wage guidelines for domestic workers, but widespread ignorance of these legal frameworks furthers the cycle of exploitation. Without a formal registration system, most workers and employers struggle with their visibility and accountability. Adding to this complexity, societal caste distinctions influence workers’ acceptance of various tasks, occasionally leading to conflicting standards of work based on caste identity.
Proponents of reform argue for a redefinition of domestic labor, acknowledging its skilled nature rather than relegating it to unskilled work. Despite India expressing a moral obligation by supporting the ILO's Convention 189 in 2011, the country has yet to ratify it, denying domestic workers full internationally recognized rights.
Recent high-profile cases of exploitation—like that of the wealthy Hinduja family, found guilty of trafficking and mistreating domestic workers—further expose the systemic issues at play. Analysts suggest that entrenched interests among policy-makers, many of whom are also employers themselves, hinder legislative action, perpetuating the status quo.
The path forward requires not only comprehensive reforms and the implementation of existing policies but also a fundamental shift in societal attitudes toward domestic work. Advocates emphasize that real change hinges on recognizing the dignity and rights of domestic workers—transformative goals that are long overdue in a country where millions remain vulnerable to mistreatment.
