Karnataka Domestic Workers Bill: Social Security Drive

Question

“The Karnataka Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025 is a landmark in India’s journey toward inclusive labour reforms and sustainable development. Discuss its significance and challenges in ensuring social security and dignity for unorganised household workers.”

Answer

The Karnataka Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025 marks India’s first comprehensive state-level legislation dedicated to the welfare of domestic and household workers. It aims to bring dignity, legal protection, and social security to an invisible yet indispensable section of the urban workforce.

The Bill mandates the registration of domestic workers, employers, and placement agencies on a digital labour portal. It introduces written employment contracts, ensuring fair wages, regulated working hours, and grievance redressal. A State Welfare Board will oversee benefits such as health insurance, maternity aid, pensions, and accident coverage, funded through a Domestic Workers Welfare Fund contributed by employers and the state government.

This initiative directly supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by empowering women, who constitute nearly 80% of domestic workers, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by formalising informal labour and safeguarding labour rights. It also aligns with the ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (C189) and the Code on Social Security, 2020, thus harmonising global and national frameworks.

However, effective implementation remains challenging. Low awareness, resistance from employers to formal registration, monitoring of private households, and the financial sustainability of welfare funds may limit its reach. Further, privacy concerns could hinder enforcement in individual homes.

Nevertheless, the Karnataka model represents a progressive blueprint for other Indian states. By bridging the gap between informal work and formal protection, it reinforces India’s constitutional promise of social justice and equality of opportunity—a vital step toward inclusive, gender-sensitive, and humane labour governance.