into a contract with the child’s guardian).60 In case of children without guardians, written
intimation of the registration authority would amount to a contract. 61 Upon
commencement of domestic work, the employer must issue the worker an identity card;
one copy of which would also be retained by the employer and another would be
submitted to the registering authority.62
Under the Draft Domestic Workers Policy, 2010 without fixing wages no one can
be engaged as a domestic worker and the wages must be fixed in money.63 The policy
also fixes the maximum number of working hours per day and provides for rest and leave
for domestic workers.64 It demands that if a domestic worker becomes ill, then the
employer of the worker would arrange for the treatment and bear the cost of the
treatment.65 It envisages that if a domestic worker suffers from any accident while
working for the employer, then as per the decision of the registering authority, the worker
is to be paid compensation by her/his employer.66
The Policy imposes an obligation on the Government that through
circular/departmental order/memorandum it issues specific directions upon the local
administrators as to registration of domestic workers and fixes a registering authority for
every locality.67 The policy envisions that the Government would introduce a shelp line
system for rendering assistance to domestic workers and promote activities that would
raise awareness about the rights of domestic workers.68 It also enumerates that the
Government would fix minimum wages and such wages would be fixed on a monthly
60
Ibid, part a, para 3.
61
Ibid.
62
Ibid.
63
Ibid, part a, para 4.
64
Ibid, part a, para 5.
65
Ibid, part a, para 8.
66
Ibid, part a, para 9.
67
Ibid, part b, para 1.
68
Ibid.
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