Preeti Singh, Poonam Singh, Vanshika Tewari and Pragya Ojha
Abstract
The nature of domestic work is changing colossally in urban India as a result of change in social-economic, cultural and technological dimensions. Domestic work that is generally seen as highly informal and undocumented field was done by a woman most of the time in the past and currently, has become a significant component of urban families and to a larger extent the fledgling middle classes and higher classes. The requirements of domestic support have been augmented by reasons which encompass, a greater womanly presence within the workplace, a nuclear syndrome family, exodus to the cities, an orientation to lifestyle and so on. Meanwhile, there is another gradual transformation in the attitude towards domestic workers who can and are as servants, not workers, or helpers, though there is the difference in wages, stability of employment and social recognition. There are also effects of urbanization, policy interventions including major labor regulations and social insurance schemes on work life and labour rights which have not been implemented on an equal basis. Even innovation techniques that entail technological platforms and implementation of app-based services are trying to institutionalize renting practices, where new form of interaction and increased access to employment exists. Nonetheless, the issues that include exploitation, caste and gender discrimination, and the lack of formal contracts in the profession remain a barrier. These changes in urban realities will be evaluated against these changes in the definition of the way domestic work should be and the paper will speculate a more inclusive understanding of where lies dignity, rights, and respect to domestic workers residing in the new emerging urban future in India.