Supreme Court refuses to issue directions to Centre, States for welfare measures of domestic helps

Supreme Court denies PIL for minimum wage enforcement for domestic workers, citing legislative limitations and trade union challenges.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 29, 2026) refused to entertain a PIL seeking a comprehensive legal framework and enforcement of minimum wages for domestic workers, saying it cannot issue a writ asking the Centre and States to consider amending existing laws.

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The Supreme Court also observed that trade unionism has been largely responsible for stopping the industrial growth in the country.

“How many industrial units in the country have been closed thanks to trade unions? Let us know the realities. All traditional industries in the country, all because of these ‘jhanda’ unions have been closed, all throughout the country. They don’t want to work. These trade union leaders are largely responsible for stopping industrial growth in the country,” Chief Justice Surya Kant said.

“Of course exploitation is there, but there are means to address exploitation. People should have been made more aware of their individual rights, people should have been made more skilled, there were several other reforms which should have been done” the CJI said.

While acknowledging the “plight” of millions of domestic helps across the country, a Bench comprising CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi maintained that the judiciary cannot encroach upon the legislative domain to mandate the enactment of laws.