Domestic Workers Work In 6 Homes To Make Minimum Wage In Few States: Study

A recent survey around minimum wages in India revealed that domestic workers in the cities of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu work harder than most people but get paid minimum amounts despite working days on end. The officially released study stated some harsh facts about the condition of domestic workers in these areas and how even as much as six low-paying jobs only get them a bare minimum.

The Indian Institute of Human Settlements' study revealed that domestic workers in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai have to work in six households a month to reach their minimum wage as per their respective states' policies.

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The minimum wage of domestic workers

A Bengaluru-based education institution Indian Institute of Human Settlements released a study that revealed the state of domestic workers down south. The survey was done across two cities, Bengaluru and Chennai, and disclosed that domestic workers work about six households every month to reach their states' minimum wage amount.

The Insitute surveyed employers of these domestic workers and about fifty-five per cent in Bengaluru assured that they paid their workers generously. On the other hand, fifty-one per cent in Chennai shared that they paid their workers sufficiently for the services.

Services like cleaning, upkeep, food preparation and other miscellaneous chores around the house and the time consumed in performing these tasks together decide the workers' wages. The survey revealed that experience, reputation or skills don't count as much in these places when deciding a worker's monthly salary. However, punctuality and honesty are the primary aspects employers look for while recruiting workers.

The study indicated that the most common reason for employers to hire domestic workers was to have extra time for themselves for self-care and their family commitments. The people surveyed disclosed that hiring domestic workers helps them focus n their respective jobs because their household chores are taken care of.

Wages paid

In Bengaluru, the wages paid to domestic workers range between 2 thousand to 13 thousand. In Chennai, the domestic workers' wages range between 1 thousand to 10 thousand. The minimum wage in the state of Karnataka is subjected to be between 12,241 rupees to 14,711 rupees. The minimum wage set in Tamil Nadu falls between 8,005 rupees to 9,418 rupees.

This indicates that a worker has to work in about six homes to earn a minimum wage amount in Karnataka, while a worker has to work around eight households in Tamil Nadu to reach the minimum age limit.

According to statistics, there are about forty-seven lakh domestic workers in India. However, only 10 states of the total 31 states and UT have included domestic workers in their Minimum Wages Act schedule.