Tamil Nadu Govt Sets Rs 37/Hr Minimum Wage For Domestic Helps, 7 Yrs Of Jail For Paying

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The Logical Indian Crew Tamil Nadu

August 3rd, 2018 / 6:25 PM / Updated 17 hours ago

Image Credits: Mumbai live

Tamil Nadu government has fixed minimum monthly wages for domestic workers in a recently
released notification. The issued notification recognises skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled
domestic workers. It is a big step by the state government as a part of Labour Reforms which
aimed at setting guidelines for the unorganised sector.
In the notification released, the fixed minimum hourly wages are fixed – Rs 37 for unskilled
domestic workers, Rs 39 for skilled workers and Rs 38 for semi-skilled workers. The rates are
fixed by considering a day’s chore of eight hours.
The minimum monthly wage for the entire day’s work for unskilled workers has been fixed at Rs
6836, whereas the same for qualified home nurse has been set at Rs 8051. For the workers who
stay with their employers, the remuneration is 10% higher.
According to the Times of India, the notification also states that if the employer is already paying
higher than the prescribed wages, they shall continue doing it. For one hour work a month the
wages must be calculated x 30 days. There should not be any distinction between the wages of a
male and a female worker.

Classification of Minimum Wages of Domestic Workers in Tamil Nadu (Source: Times Of India)
Recommendations made by the committee

The notification is based on the recommendations made by an eight-member committee. The

Deputy Commissioner of Labour of Coimbatore headed the committee. The committee had
meetings with labour inspectors, domestic workers union and employers to understand their needs.
“From January to June last year, we travelled to ten districts and held discussions with domestic
workers associations to understand their need. Besides interviews, the team also factored in the
average Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Chennai city in 2015 while fixing the rate,” a member of
the committee said while speaking to The Times of India.
Punishment

Any violation of the notification can land into punishment of up to seven years imprisonment with
fine. The employers found guilty of violation can be booked under the Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Act, 1976, Minimum Wages Act, 1948 along with Sections 370 and 374 of the Indian
Penal Code (IPC).
Position of Unorganised Sector

The workers in the unorganised sector constitute the major part of the total workforce. As per the
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data collected in 2011-2012, out of total estimated
employed persons, 82.7 % of the workforce is in the unorganised sector. Most of these workers are
from vulnerable communities who do not have proper means of livelihood or those who lack
economic opportunities. A large number of domestic labour consists of women and minors. Most
of the workers in the unorganised sector are migrants and belong to the lowest strata of the
economy. Migration from rural to urban areas is due to debt, poverty, loss of agricultural land.
These people are an easy target for exploitation because of their needs and lack of awareness of
legal rights.
The unorganised sector lacks proper laws and rights for workers, no minimum wage requirement
neither job security. The workers lack awareness about the existing laws made for their protection.
Exploitation in the form of low wages, long working hours, inhuman treatment is faced by the
workers on a daily basis.
A national policy is needed for the safety of these workers which would ensure their overall well
being which includes health, education of their children etc. The Ministry of Labour is working on
a policy for domestic workers since last three years. In March 2018, the Minister of State for
Labour Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha “Discussions are underway
regarding a national policy for domestic workers, including women with the aim to protect the
domestic w