The Government is considering extending the benefits of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to the domestic workers in the country. In their first report, the Task Force on Domestic Workers has, inter-alia, made following recommendations:

(i)  Extension of the welfare schemes to the domestic workers including Health and Maternity benefit, Death and Disability benefit and old age benefits.

(ii)        Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) should be the first welfare scheme to be extended to the domestic workers. The smart cards used under RSBY can later be used to load other welfare schemes rolled out for domestic workers.

(iii)       Domestic workers should be identified and registered by the State Labour Department.

(iv)       The domestic work should be included in the Central List of scheduled employment vide a notification under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for fixation and enforcement of minimum wages in respect of domestic workers. The State Governments which have not fixed minimum wages for domestic work should fix minimum rates of wages for domestic workers.

(v)        Mandatory registration of all placement agencies and individuals providing placement, sourcing and recruitment service relating to domestic work under Shops and Establishment Act.

(vi)       Formulation of National Policy for the Domestic Workers.

(vii)      Scaling up of the skill and re-skill training program initiated by International Labour Organization.

The proposal to extend RSBY to domestic workers is under consideration of the Government. One of the recommendations of the Task Force relates to mandatory registration of all placement agencies and individuals providing placement, sourcing and recruitment service relating to domestic work under Shops and Establishment Act. The recommendations of the Task Force are being examined.