Domestic workers help keep households running, care for children and support families every day. Yet, their essential contribution often remains unrecognised in employment arrangements and social protection systems, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
To mark the International Day of Care and Support on 29 October 2026, the ILO, in collaboration with the Labour Resources Department, Government of Bihar, launched Making Social Protection Available and Accessible for Domestic Workers: A Case Study of Bihar in Patna. Prepared by the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI), the report examines barriers domestic workers face in accessing social protection and labour rights. The study was undertaken under the ILO's Promoting Rights and Social Inclusion through Organization and Formalization (PRS) Phase 2 project, funded by the Government of Japan.
Based on a survey of domestic workers in Patna and Gaya, the study found that none of the workers surveyed had a signed employment contract, 84.7 per cent earned between INR 2,000 (approximately USD 21) and INR 4,000 (approximately USD 42) per month, and 54 per cent were not registered on the e-Shram portal - the national database for unorganized workers. Although many were enrolled in at least one social welfare scheme, access to wider social protection remained uneven.
"The report identifies a fundamental challenge: domestic work remains largely invisible within formal systems of employment and social protection. Workers often work across multiple households without written contracts, making it difficult to identify them, recognise employment relationships and extend labour protection and social security in practice," said Ellina Samantroy, Fellow and Technical Expert, VVGNLI.
It recommends simplifying worker registration and facilitating access to existing social protection schemes, alongside strengthening labour protection and grievance redress mechanisms to ensure that domestic workers' rights are recognised and upheld.
Highlighting the importance of the report, Rajesh Bharti, Labour Commissioner, Government of Bihar, committed to considering the report's findings for follow-up through the Social Security Board established for unorganised workers. This provides an opportunity to strengthen institutional efforts to improve domestic workers' access to social protection.
"Launched on the International Day of Care and Support, the report reinforces an important message: care for those who care for us. Turning this principle into action requires coordinated efforts to recognise domestic workers, protect their rights and ensure access to social protection," said K. Senthil Kumar, Labour Secretary, "because those who care for our homes and families deserve decent work, dignity and security in return".
