Domestic workers urge Union government to enact law for fair wages, social security

P. Geetha Jeevan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, speaking during an event organised as part of the International Domestic Workers Day, in Chennai on Monday. | Photo Credit: M. SRINATH

In the 25 years that R. Rajeshwari has been a domestic worker, only in the last 10 years did she come to know about her right to a weekly holiday and bonus. “We think domestic work is not important. Back in the village, people don’t value workers who clean the house or the bathroom. But now, we understand the dignity and social security in the work,” she said at an event here on Monday.

On the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (TNDWWT) urged the Union government to enact a legislation ensuring decent work, fair wages, social security and legal rights to domestic workers.

“Domestic work helped me to educate my daughter only in a matriculation school. Its vital that we receive better wages and that people recognise our work as important,” said Rajeshwari.

Better awareness needed

Speaking at an event organised on the occasion, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister P. Geetha Jeevan said, “Even with the government’s support, there is a need for better societal awareness. A lot of improvements for women have come about through law. However, many problems persist due to constraints faced within the family set up.”

Further, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State government to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, revise their existing minimum wage to ₹100 per hour and establish regulations and monitoring mechanisms for domestic worker recruitment by agencies to prevent exploitation, among other demands.

Member of Parliament Sasikanth Senthil, Member of Legislative Assembly of T. Nagar J. Karunanidhi, District Judge and Deputy Secretary District Legal Services Authority S. Vengadalakshmi, chief functionary TNDWWT Josephine Amala Valarmathi and members of the TNDWWT also spoke at the event.

Published - June 17, 2025 12:42 am IST