A Systematic Review of Existing Laws and Policies Affecting Domestic Workers in Madhya Pradesh: Challenges and Recommendations for Reform

Abstract

Domestic workers constitute an indispensable yet persistently marginalized segment of India’s informal workforce. Despite their substantial contribution to household economies and urban labour markets, domestic workers continue to remain outside the effective protection of labour legislation, rendering them vulnerable to exploitation, insecurity, and systemic neglect. This paper undertakes a critical socio-legal analysis of the existing legal and policy framework governing domestic workers in Madhya Pradesh, a state where the absence of specific regulatory mechanisms has significantly exacerbated their precarity. Through a systematic review of national statutes, policy instruments, and proposed legislative measures—most notably the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 and the Domestic Workers (Conditions of Work) Bill, 2010 the study identifies persistent legal gaps and implementation failures that undermine the realization of domestic workers’ rights.  The paper further situates these legal inadequacies within the broader socio-economic context of Madhya Pradesh, where domestic work is predominantly undertaken by women from economically and socially marginalized communities. It highlights how the informal and privatized nature of domestic labour restricts access to minimum wages, social security, job stability, and legal remedies, while also intensifying gender-based discrimination and vulnerability to abuse. The analysis reveals that existing welfare-oriented frameworks, though symbolically significant, remain largely ineffective due to weak enforcement, lack of awareness, and the absence of state-specific legislation.  The study argues that meaningful protection of domestic workers’ rights requires a shift from fragmented welfare measures to a comprehensive regulatory approach. It advocates the enactment of state-level legislation in Madhya Pradesh, strengthened enforcement mechanisms, and the formal recognition of domestic work as legitimate labour.