Top court bats for law to protect domestic workers

Pointing to the legislative vacuum in protecting millions of house helps from exploitation, SC on Wednesday directed Centre to constitute an expert committee to draft a legal framework for safeguarding the dignity and safety of this huge, essential, yet unorganised workforce, and then enact a pan-India law, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra. Hinging its decision on a case of torture, exploitation and trafficking of a domestic help in Dehradun, the bench said, "The reason for this harassment and rampant abuse, which seems to be prevalent throughout the country, is the legal vacuum which exists vis-a-vis the rights and protection of domestic workers.".