Bill drafted to regulate agencies that recruit domestic helps: Government
In the light of repeated incidents of exploitation of domestic workers here, the city government on Wednesday told the high court that the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill has been drafted to regulate placement agencies here.
Filing a status report before the bench of chief justice NV Ramana and justice Manmohan, Delhi government told the bench that 1754 placement agencies have been registered under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act.
It further mentioned, ‘A bill, The Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, has been drafted after incorporating suggestions of various stakeholders.
The bill was also sent to West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa for their views, as a lot of domestic workers come from these states. The bill will be placed before the cabinet, after Delhi assembly elections.’
The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, seeking compulsory registration of placement agencies within one month and compliance of the court’s earlier directions on the issue.Petitioner NGO’s counsel Prabhsahay Kaur told the bench that domestic workers were being exploited every day by the placement agencies and in spite of repeated directions of this court, no concrete steps have been taken by the government.
The counsel also cited two recent incidents that happened in city where one domestic worker was tortured and another one died (both were placed by placement agencies).
As per the plea, on the petitioner’s application on 4 August, 2011 alleging government’s inaction to comply with the court’s directions, Delhi government put forth a bill called Delhi Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill.
The plea also said the court had held in March last year that the bill should be enacted within two-three months but nothing has been done till date.
Filing a status report before the bench of chief justice NV Ramana and justice Manmohan, Delhi government told the bench that 1754 placement agencies have been registered under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act.
It further mentioned, ‘A bill, The Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, has been drafted after incorporating suggestions of various stakeholders.
The bill was also sent to West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa for their views, as a lot of domestic workers come from these states. The bill will be placed before the cabinet, after Delhi assembly elections.’
The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, seeking compulsory registration of placement agencies within one month and compliance of the court’s earlier directions on the issue.Petitioner NGO’s counsel Prabhsahay Kaur told the bench that domestic workers were being exploited every day by the placement agencies and in spite of repeated directions of this court, no concrete steps have been taken by the government.
The counsel also cited two recent incidents that happened in city where one domestic worker was tortured and another one died (both were placed by placement agencies).
As per the plea, on the petitioner’s application on 4 August, 2011 alleging government’s inaction to comply with the court’s directions, Delhi government put forth a bill called Delhi Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill.
The plea also said the court had held in March last year that the bill should be enacted within two-three months but nothing has been done till date.