Assam Legislative Assembly discusses social security of domestic workers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government is preparing a rule for the welfare of domestic workers. The Central Government is also contemplating ensuring the social security of domestic workers, Labour Welfare Minister Sanjay Kishan informed the Assam Legislative Assembly today.

The Leader of Opposition, Debabrata Saikia, moved a private member bill, 'The Assam Domestic Workers (Regulation of Work and Social Security) Bill, 2023," in the State Assembly today.

In support of the Bill, Saikia said, "People working as domestic workers (domestic helpers) should get social security as they are working in the unorganized sector. There are some national rules that seek registration, a minimum wage structure, redressal of grievances, etc., for people working in the unorganized sector under the 'Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008. However, the provisions under this Act are not followed in Assam. The wages they get are not adequate, and the female workers get less than their male counterparts. In some cases, children also work as domestic helpers. Taking that in view, the State Government should accept this private member Bill for the social security of domestic workers."

BJP MLA Diganta Kalita and Congress MLA Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha also spoke on this private member Bill. A few MLAs raised the issue domestic helps facing sexual assaults.

Responding to the Bill, State Labour Welfare Minister Sanjay Kishan said, "Under the provisions of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008, the State Government has taken some schemes for the welfare of unorganised workers. The State Government is also preparing rules for the fixation of minimum wages to improve the skill, redressal of grievances, etc. of domestic workers. The Government at the Centre is also contemplating taking up welfare activities for unorganized workers. The State Government will take the right measures in due course. A new labour law is also in the making. The government will take into consideration the suggestions put forward by the members in framing the labour law."

Kishan further said, "The Labour Department has a rule for domestic help that has fixed the remuneration for domestic help at the rates of Rs 36 per hour for house cleaning, Rs 43 per hour for babysitting, etc. Some domestic helpers work part time, and others work permanently."

The Leader of the Opposition finally withdrew the private member's bill in the hope that the government would accommodate the suggestions given in the bill.