Unpaid Domestic Work In India

Source: Indian Express
GS I: Role of Women, GS II: Government policies and interventions, Welfare Schemes, GS III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, Growth, development and  Employment, Inclusive Growth, 

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. What is Unpaid Domestic Work?
3. Economic Significance
4. Issues Associated with Domestic Work
5. Significance of the Supreme Court Verdict

Why in the News?

Recently, the Supreme Court recognised the economic value of unpaid domestic work while deciding a motor accident compensation case.

News in Brief

• The Supreme Court fixed a notional income of rupees 30,000 per month for a homemaker to calculate compensation.
• The judgment acknowledges that household and caregiving work contribute significantly to family welfare and the economy.
• The ruling has revived discussions on the need for greater recognition, economic rights, and social security for homemakers.

What is Unpaid Domestic Work?

• Includes cooking, cleaning, childcare, elderly care, household management, and emotional support.
• Performed largely by women without monetary compensation.
• Essential for sustaining families, communities, and the paid workforce.

Economic Significance

• Women aged 15-59 spend over seven hours daily on unpaid domestic work, compared to less than three hours for men.
• Women perform 2.6 times more unpaid caregiving work than men.
• Women’s unpaid care work is estimated to contribute 15-17% of India’s GDP, though it remains unrecognised in national accounts.
• Around 16 billion hours globally are devoted to unpaid care and domestic work every day.
• Reduces the state’s welfare burden.

Issues Associated with Unpaid Domestic Work

• Excluded from GDP and conventional economic measurements.
• Reinforces gender inequality and the unequal division of labour.
• Contributes to low female labour force participation.
• Lack of social security, pension, and insurance coverage.
• Limited legal recognition and policy support.

Significance of the Supreme Court Judgment

• Recognises homemakers’ contribution to nation-building.
• Brings visibility to unpaid care and domestic work.
• Established a benchmark for compensation in legal cases.
• Strengthens the case for gender-responsive economic policies.
• Encourages greater social recognition of care work.

Concerns

• Focuses mainly on compensation after death rather than broader economic rights.
• Risk of glorifying homemaking without addressing the unequal distribution of care responsibilities.
• Unequal burden of care work restricts women’s workforce participation.
  • Urban female labour force participation remains significantly lower than that of men.
  • In 2024-25, as per PLFS data, the male-female difference was about 47%, with male participation rates at 73%.
• Fails to address minimum wages and labour protections for domestic workers.
• Does not address the structural undervaluation of unpaid domestic work.

Way Forward

• Expand social security coverage for homemakers and domestic workers.
• Improve the valuation of unpaid care work through surveys.
• Strengthen legal protections and labour standards for domestic workers.
• Promote equal sharing of household responsibilities.
• Integrate unpaid care work considerations into policymaking and gender budgeting.
• Improve women’s labour force participation through childcare support and flexible work arrangements.

Conclusion

Recognising unpaid domestic work as productive economic activity is essential for achieving gender equality, enhancing women’s economic empowerment, and building a more inclusive and equitable society.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding unpaid domestic work in India

1. 1. Unpaid domestic and caregiving work is fully accounted for in India’s GDP calculations.
   2. Unpaid domestic work is recognised as formal employment under Indian Labour Laws.
   3. The Supreme Court recently recognised unpaid domestic work and fixed a notional monthly income of rupees 30,000 for homemakers for compensation purposes.

Which of the above statements are incorrect?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2and 3 only

c) 1and 3

d) 1,2 and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 2 only

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