The silent domestic labour force in Telangana is mostly invisible

Domestic workers in Telangana form an invisible yet essential workforce sustaining urban households, particularly in Hyderabad. Predominantly women from marginalised communities, they face systemic exclusion shaped by caste, gender, and religion. Despite their labour, most remain outside formal recognition—without contracts, fair wages, social security, or protections. Surveys reveal extreme precarity: 81% earn below minimum wage, 96% lack rest days, and many work 12-hour shifts without benefits. Though a draft bill for minimum wages and protections was proposed in 2025, enforcement remains weak, with wage laws largely symbolic. Organising is difficult due to the isolation of work and fear of retaliation. Civil society groups like NDWM offer support, but state action is inadequate. The pandemic further exposed this fragility, with mass dismissals and unpaid labour. Advocates argue that Telangana must move toward a rights-based framework—ensuring contracts, social security, and recognition—to restore dignity and justice to this hidden workforce.

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