Domestic Workers Rights — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
N/A (No specific central act for domestic workers)	N/A	Currently, there is no specific central legislation for domestic workers that has undergone amendments. The Domestic Workers (Regulation of Work and Social Security) Bill, 2017, was introduced but lapsed without being enacted. Therefore, the concept of 'amendments' in this context primarily refers to the *absence* of a dedicated legal framework and the ongoing efforts to include domestic workers under broader labour codes.	The lack of a dedicated central act means domestic workers rely on fragmented protections under existing general labour laws, which are often difficult to enforce in private households. This absence of specific legislation and subsequent amendments has left millions of workers vulnerable, without comprehensive social security, minimum wage guarantees, or formal grievance redressal mechanisms, perpetuating their informal and often exploited status.
Code on Social Security, 2020	2020	While not an amendment to a domestic workers' specific act, the Code on Social Security, 2020, consolidates and amends laws relating to social security. It aims to extend social security benefits to all unorganized workers, including domestic workers, through various schemes. However, specific rules for domestic workers under this code are still being formulated, and its full implementation for this sector is pending.	If effectively implemented with specific rules for domestic workers, this Code has the potential to provide a broad social security net, including provident fund, ESI, and maternity benefits. However, the challenge lies in its operationalization for a highly informal and dispersed workforce, requiring robust registration mechanisms and employer compliance, which are historically difficult to achieve in this sector.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013	2013	This Act, while not an amendment to a domestic workers' specific law, was a significant legislative development that explicitly included 'domestic workers' within its definition of 'employee' and 'workplace'. It provides a legal framework for redressal against sexual harassment for domestic workers, stemming from the Vishaka Guidelines.	This Act provided a crucial legal recourse for female domestic workers against sexual harassment, recognizing their vulnerability in private homes. However, its impact is limited by low awareness, fear of reprisal, and challenges in accessing and operationalizing Local Complaints Committees (LCCs) in practice, leaving many incidents unreported and unaddressed.