Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Review of literature. 3. Distressed labour migration. 4. Urban poverty in India. 5. Profiles of Chandigarh. 6. Living conditions of female domestics. 7. Live in and live out domestics. 8. Prospects, problems and policy implications. 9. Decent work for female domestics. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

Domestic work, largely performed by woman labourers in urban areas, is becoming a major and growing activity not only in developing countries but also in industrialized world. Majority of domestic workers are migrants and belong to ethnic minority communities. Their working conditions are disgusting with long working hours, low pay and absence of social security. The volume discusses the magnitude of informal sector and urban poverty in India, and studies the living conditions problems and prospects of live in and live out domestic woman workers. (jacket)