Rajasthan sets minimum wages for domestic help

Sakal Gharelu Ustad

Detests Jholawalas
Ambassador
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
7,114
Likes
7,761
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...es-for-domestic-help/articleshow/50799019.cms

JAIPUR: Enforcing labour reforms in the unorganised sector, the Rajasthan government has fixed minimum wages for domestic help and set limits to their working hours.

According to a recent notification by the state's labour department, the rate for an entire day's (defined as eight hours) chores - including cooking, washing, baby sitting and other work - has been fixed at a minimum of Rs 5,642 per month. The new salaries come into effect from January 1, 2016.

READ ALSO: RPSC revises wages for employees

In case of overtime, employers will have to pay workers double the minimum fixed per hour for each hour beyond the mandated eight hours.



Domestic helps hired for just washing dishes and laundry will have to be paid a minimum Rs 705 per month for a household of four people. If the number of people exceeds four, the help would have to be paid 10% more than the minimum prescribed, per individual.

The Centre is also trying to prepare a national policy for domestic workers. On August 17, 2015, TOI had reported that the Union labour ministry was seeking to ensure minimum salary of Rs 9,000 per month, compulsory paid leave of 15 days a year and maternity leave, apart from social security for domestic help.

READ ALSO: Minimum wage hiked in Delhi

The minimum wage for domestic helps notified by the Rajasthan government is exclusive of food, clothes, accommodation or other perks that an employer may be providing.

Also, if an employer is paying more than the prescribed minimum wage, then he or she must continue paying the higher amount. Jaipur Servants Association spokesman Abdul Moin said, "This is a good step. Most people who work as domestic helps here are from other states like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, and are unlettered. This will ensure they are paid their minimum amount. In fact, the government should raise the bar higher."

Dhanraj Sharma, additional labour commissioner, said, "Domestic workers were included in Scheduled 27 of the Minimum Wages Act eight years ago. But, we have now fixed the number of working hours for them to ensure they are paid well."
d... Read MoreRaghu
The department, to ensure implementation, will even press labour inspectors to carry out surprise checks in every district.

"Violators will be liable for prosecution, and domestic worker eligible for compensation as high as 10 times the difference between the minimum wage and the amount he or she was received," he added.

In the last couple of years, Rajasthan has emerged as a bellwether state as far as labour reforms are concerned.

###########################################

When you think some economic sense is prevailing, Indian state does something stupid- the top-down approach to do things.

There is no point of framing laws which govt. cannot enforce. Courts cannot handle the existing complaints, including this new initiative will only increase harassment. Most people pay in cash and have no receipt for payment and this is truly informal sector. It is not that the state can get taxes out of it and needed this reform. Illogical!!!
 

Kshatriya87

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
10,108
Likes
15,829
Country flag
A step towards development, decreasing poverty and economic gap between the rich and poor. However, in a country like India, many businesses thrive on cheap labour. If this law is enforced across India, no doubt it will help the labours - only those who manage to keep the job. Others will be fired as the businessmen will look to reduce the number of employees.
 

Sakal Gharelu Ustad

Detests Jholawalas
Ambassador
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
7,114
Likes
7,761
A step towards development, decreasing poverty and economic gap between the rich and poor. However, in a country like India, many businesses thrive on cheap labour. If this law is enforced across India, no doubt it will help the labours - only those who manage to keep the job. Others will be fired as the businessmen will look to reduce the number of employees.
It is not even about businesses. It is about households and mutual unwritten agreements. The Indian state is just following top down approach to everything.
 

Kshatriya87

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
10,108
Likes
15,829
Country flag
It is not even about businesses. It is about households and mutual unwritten agreements. The Indian state is just following top down approach to everything.
Exactly. Household help, cheap waiters at small restaurants/dhabaas will be gone. But then again, Indians know jugaad. The labours will just make an under the table deal with the employers and ask them to keep paying them the old amount just to keep their jobs.
 

punjab47

महाबलामहावीर्यामहासत्यपराक्रमासर्वाग्रेक्षत्रियाजट
Banned
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
1,059
Likes
598
Yeah, this reminds me of mass layoffs after American 15 hr min wage for fast food. :D
 

dhananjay1

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
3,291
Likes
5,544
Minimum wage doesn't work anywhere, people always find a way to get around these laws. All it does is increase animosity between employees and employers and increase burden on legal system.
 

musalman

پاکستان زنده باد
Regular Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
923
Likes
135
Country flag
Very good ........................
 

indiatester

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
5,812
Likes
20,105
Country flag
6k per month seems kinda low atleast as per Bangalore standards.
Coming to think of it, we pay more in my village too. What are the prevailing rates in Rajasthan?
 

Anupu

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
806
Likes
2,624
Country flag
6k per month seems kinda low atleast as per Bangalore standards.
Coming to think of it, we pay more in my village too. What are the prevailing rates in Rajasthan?
Seems fine as per a minimum wage I think, not a bad number, cost of living is low in Rajasthan.
 

TheRenegades

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2016
Messages
120
Likes
37
A good start. I think the experience along with minimum wage should be factored in.
 

musalman

پاکستان زنده باد
Regular Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
923
Likes
135
Country flag
How much you pay for a driver, cook etc in your area.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top