On Wednesday, January 29, the Supreme Court instructed the Union Government to explore the possibility of enacting a law aimed at safeguarding the rights of domestic workers.

A bench consisting of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Ministry of Labour & Employment, along with the relevant ministries, to form an expert committee to assess the feasibility of enacting a law for the protection of domestic workers.

The committee has been instructed to submit its report within six weeks. Following the receipt of the report, the Union Government is expected to make efforts to introduce legislation that will ensure the dignity and safety of domestic workers.

The bench noted that despite domestic workers being an essential part of the workforce, there is no nationwide legislation in place to safeguard their rights. As a result, they remain vulnerable to exploitation by employers and agencies.