In a landmark move to protect the rights of one of the most unregulated and vulnerable sections of the workforce, the Karnataka Labour Department has introduced a draft legislation titled the Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025. The draft aims to transform the working conditions of domestic workers across the state by mandating written employment agreements, minimum wages, registration, and comprehensive social security benefits. Published on October 16, 2025, the bill opens a new chapter in labour reform, seeking to bring dignity, legal recognition, and structured protection to domestic work — a sector traditionally outside formal labour laws.
Formalizing Domestic Work in Karnataka
Domestic work remains one of the most informal and under-regulated forms of labour in India. Millions of workers, most of them women, are employed as cooks, cleaners, caregivers, drivers, or nannies, often without formal contracts, fixed wages, or any legal protection against exploitation. Recognizing this long-standing gap, Karnataka’s Labour Department has proposed a detailed legal framework to regulate employment relationships between domestic workers and employers, whether through direct hiring or third-party agencies and digital platforms.
The draft bill’s central purpose is to ensure that domestic workers enjoy the same basic labour rights guaranteed to other workers under Indian law, including minimum wages, regular working hours, rest days, and access to welfare schemes. The move aligns with international labour standards, particularly the International Labour Organization’s Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers, which India has not yet ratified but has been moving closer to in policy terms.
Written Employment Agreements: A Mandatory Clause
One of the most significant provisions of the draft bill is the mandatory written employment agreement. The law stipulates that no domestic worker shall be employed without a written agreement signed between the employer and the worker. This contract must conform to the model employment agreement that will be prescribed under the rules framed by the government.
The written agreement is designed to safeguard both parties by clearly outlining:
- The worker’s full name and personal particulars
- The type and scope of work assigned
- Duration and schedule of work, including rest breaks
- Payment terms and wage rates
- Welfare contributions, holidays, and other entitlements
Failure to comply with this requirement could invite legal action. The bill specifies that employers, placement agencies, or service providers violating the provisions may face up to three months’ imprisonment and monetary fines. Citizens and stakeholders have one month from the publication of the draft to submit feedback, objections, or suggestions.
Ensuring Fair Pay and Decent Working Conditions
The proposed legislation gives the state government the authority to fix and periodically revise minimum wages for domestic workers. This measure is crucial, as domestic work is often undervalued and underpaid compared to other occupations. The bill explicitly prohibits any discrimination in wages based on gender or age, ensuring that men, women, and adolescent workers receive equal pay for similar work.
In terms of working conditions, the bill caps the maximum working hours at 48 per week, with at least one full day offor two staggered half-days of rest every week. Domestic workers are also entitled to:
- Annual paid leave
- Maternity benefits
- Reasonable rest periods
- Fair treatment and safety at work
These clauses recognize the often exploitative and demanding conditions under which domestic workers operate and seek to guarantee them humane and consistent work standards.
Mandatory Registration and Accountability
To enhance regulation and traceability, the bill makes registration mandatory for all domestic workers, employers, and service providers — including digital platforms that act as intermediaries between households and workers.
Key provisions include:
- Employers must register domestic workers within one month of hiring.
- Service providers or agencies must register within one month of the Act coming into force.
- Illiterate or migrant workers must be registered by the employer, agency, or service provider on their behalf.
- Workers changing jobs or relocating must inform the registering authority within 30 days.
This registration system is designed to create an official database, helping the state monitor compliance, extend welfare benefits, and respond effectively to complaints or disputes.
Creation of the Karnataka State Domestic Workers Welfare Board
A core institutional feature of the bill is the formation of the Karnataka State Domestic Workers Social Security and Welfare Board. This body will function as the nodal agency for implementing the Act, ensuring coordination among various stakeholders, and managing the Domestic Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund.
The Board’s responsibilities include:
- Administering and monitoring welfare schemes
- Advising the state government on policy and implementation
- Overseeing registration and enforcement mechanisms
- Ensuring fair representation and grievance redressal
Funding for the Board will come from multiple sources, including:
- Registration fees from workers, employers, agencies, and digital platforms
- Up to 5 percent of the welfare fee collected periodically
- Contributions or grants from the state government
The Board will have equal representation from domestic workers, employers, service providers, placement agencies, and government officials, ensuring balanced participation and accountability in decision-making.
Stringent Penal Provisions
Beyond employment regulation, the bill also introduces stringent penalties to protect domestic workers from abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
According to the draft:
- Anyone found guilty of sending women or girls for immoral purposes, illegally confining or abusing a domestic worker, or employing a child in domestic labour will face three to seven years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹50,000.
These provisions underscore the state’s zero-tolerance stance toward any form of human rights violation within domestic employment, a sector where abuse often goes unreported due to fear and social stigma.
Defining Domestic Work and Employment Relationships
The bill adopts an expansive and inclusive definition of both “domestic worker” and “employer.”
A domestic worker is defined as any individual engaged to perform domestic work — full-time or part-time, live-in or live-out — whether on a temporary, casual, gig-based, or contractual basis. The definition includes those working through placement agencies or digital platforms.
An employer, on the other hand, refers to any person or household that hires or controls the services of a domestic worker, directly or indirectly. This includes heads of households, service providers, or digital intermediaries.
By acknowledging gig and platform-based work, the bill modernizes the legal framework to reflect evolving employment models in the digital age.
Toward Dignity and Legal Protection
The Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025 represents a watershed moment in the ongoing effort to bring dignity and formal recognition to domestic work in Karnataka. For decades, this workforce has remained excluded from mainstream labour protections, social insurance, and legal remedies. With this bill, Karnataka joins a growing number of Indian states — including Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu — that are working toward integrating domestic work into the formal labour economy.
If enacted, the legislation will not only help prevent exploitation but also empower domestic workers through institutional mechanisms for welfare and social justice. By emphasizing written agreements, fair wages, humane working hours, and strong enforcement, the bill envisions a future where domestic work is recognized as legitimate, valuable, and dignified labour — not invisible service.
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