Paper short abstract:

Over the last few years, there has been an increase of female migrant domestic workers which forms a significant part of informal economy in unorganized sector.

Paper long abstract:

Domestic Service, predominantly a female occupation, is emerging as one of the major segments in Indian urban informal sector. Over the last few years, there has been an increase of female migrant domestic workers which forms a significant part of informal economy in unorganized sector. The causes of this migration are economic backwardness, limited opportunities for work, low income potential, desire to earn more and desire for urban life style.

A total of 122 tribal women of Subdega, Birmitrapur and Jareikela of Odisha and Simdega and Monoharpur of Jharkhand were studied for the purpose. And for the collection of data purposive sampling, interview schedule, case study, participant observation methods were applied.

Our findings show that more than 90% of respondents have come form impoverished peasant families or who have lost access to natural resources. Further, the study reveals that women workers in unorganized sector have very little or no access to social security no pension, no health insurance, no fixed place of working hours, lesser wages and no job security.

Verbal abuse, excessive working hours and insufficient food and sleep deprivation are their common problems despite the organized Sector Workers Social Security Act' 2008 is in operation. Thus, Govt. should take effective measures for the welfare of this invisible work-force.

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