Ggm drafts rights charter for domestic help in city

Three days after a teenager was rescued from a house in Sector 57 in Gurugram, where she was illegally employed as a help and allegedly tortured by her employers, the city's district administration has decided to draft a "charter of rights for domestic helps".

- Leena Dhankhar

On Tuesday, Gurugram deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav said that a committee will be set up by Wednesday, comprising legal experts, social activists, and district officials, who will create framework of regulations for hiring domestic helps, and the minimum wages they will be paid. "We are seeking legal opinion before releasing the charter. It will define the working hours of domestic helps, and minimum wage, which is currently 10,000 a month... We will ensure that no minors are hired in the district, and strict action will be taken against anyone who is seen flouting these rules," said Yadav.

Meals and health checks

Yadav said the committee will also spell out the minimum number of meals the employer must provide to the help each day, the leaves they should get, means of communication with family members, and details of the medical expenses to be borne by the employers.

"Regular medical camps, in coordination with the Civil Hospital or private hospitals, will be set up in all residential areas every month, and it will be mandatory for all employers to get their helps medically checked," Yadav said.