The Karnataka government has proposed a new law to provide legal recognition, welfare, and social security to domestic workers — such as house helps, caretakers, home nurses, cleaners, and other persons employed in households—many of whom have until now operated without formal protections.
The bill is called the Karnataka Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025. It aims to bring domestic work into the ambit of right‐based labour protections in Karnataka and now the bill is for inviting suggestions from public.
The draft defines “domestic worker” broadly to include those employed directly or indirectly, full‐time, part‐time, temporary, gig, piece‐meal, live‐in or otherwise, whether in the employer’s premises or outside. Migrant workers are included.
“Employer” is also broadly defined: includes any individual or entity hiring domestic help, people who control the household, platforms or agencies engaged in such employment.
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Key Provisions include:No domestic worker can be employed without a written contract or agreement between the employer (or service provider) and the worker. The agreement must specify details such as nature of work, hours, wages, benefits, welfare fee, etc. Maximum working hours will be 48 hours per week. A domestic worker will be entitled to either one full day off per week or two half‐days. The bill also has provisions regarding the right to rest, annual paid leave, and maternity benefit. The government will fix a minimum wage for domestic workers, which can be revised periodically. There must be no gender or age discrimination in wage rates.
All domestic workers, employers, service providers (including digital platforms and placement agencies) must be registered via a government portal. If workers are migrants or illiterate, certain agencies or employers have responsibility to assist/register them within a specified time. Upon change of employment or relocation, workers must inform the registering authority within 30 days.
The bill also seeks to constitute a welfare board to oversee the implementation of welfare schemes, manage a welfare fund, monitor compliance and advise the government. Fund will collect revenue via registration fees, welfare fees (up to 5% of a worker’s wage paid by employer/service provider), fines, and possibly state grants.
Employers or service providers who violate the Act (for example, without a written agreement, failing registration, or paying less than the minimum wage) can face fines and/or imprisonment. For some offences, up to 3‐months jail and fines (e.g. Rs. 20,000) are indicated. For more serious abuses—like trafficking, illegal confinement, employing children, exploiting women or girls for immoral purposes—penalties are stiffer which are 3‐7 years of imprisonment and fines up to Rs. 50,000.
Many domestic workers are outside the protection of labour laws. If passed, this Bill would provide them a formal status and enforceable rights. The Bill ensures contributory welfare measures and social security (e.g. maternity benefits, rest, paid leaves), things often missing in informal work.
Since a large majority of domestic workers are women (often marginalized and migrants), having safeguards against discrimination and abuse is crucial.Written contracts, standard hours, minimum wages across the state may help reduce exploitation and arbitrary work conditions. In the gig‐economy era, many domestic services are mediated through apps or agencies. Bringing them under regulation provides accountability.
The draft has been released, and the government is inviting public feedback and suggestions. Citizens have about 30 days to submit objections or remarks. After consultations and revisions, the Bill would be introduced in the Cabinet and then in the State Legislature for debate, amendment, and hopefully passage.
