The movement had its origins in early eighties in Chennai. Dr. (Sr.) Jeanne the founder, focused on groups of domestic workers trying to give them a voice and listen and respond to the experiences of indignity, abuse and exploitation at the hands of their employers. In 1985, Sr. Jeanne started multiple groups in Mumbai and Chennai to organise domestic workers and child domestic workers culminating in the formation of National Domestic Workers' Movement, which has spread over
16 States.
Since 1985, NDWM has achieved several gains for domestic workers and we are committed to continuing our work until every domestic worker is able to enjoy a life of dignity and justice with full rights as a worker.

Our Vision
To create a just society for all domestic workers, where they are treated with dignity and justice, their rights are upheld, their contribution recognized and their voices heard. We also envision a society where child domestic work is completely abolished and children in work enjoy mainstream education and fuller childhood.

Our Mission
As a Movement we commit ourselves to promote and ensure participation of domestic workers in their struggle for rights and justice. We empower domestic workers to fight against all forms of injustice and discrimination.

Our Objectives

• Promotion of decent work and safe working conditions for all domestic workers
• Protection of domestic workers against violation of their rights.
• Capacity building and empowerment of domestic workers for participation in the struggle for justice
• Promotion of decent social protection for domestic workers and migrant workers.
• Promotion of safe migration and trafficking prevention to counteract forced labour of women and children.
• Promotion of the Child Rights Movement (CRM) to advance empowerment and child participation in decision making among child domestic workers.
• Crisis intervention and re-integration programs for victims of abuse.
• Networking at local, national and international levels for policy and legislative inclusion of domestic workers

Our Programmes
Organizing & Capacity Building
Domestic Workers - women or children have always been victims of society. Invisible, rejected and stigmatized, they would simply surrender themselves to their plight.
Social Security
The Indian Constitution clearly spells out the duty of the Central and State Governments to pass legislation to provide assistance to maintain individual or family income or to provide
Networking and Collaboration

The Movement partners with several NGOs and other like-minded agencies both within and outside the country for the protection and promotion of domestic workers' rights.
Lobbying and Advocacy for Enacting Legislations

Until very recently, domestic workers in India have been excluded from the purview of legislations to protect their rights. This neglect is all the more distressing as organized labour
Preventing Trafficking and Safeguarding rights

Trafficking in human persons and engaging them in menial labour and domestic work, especially children and young girls from rural areas especially to cities for domestic work

Learn MoreEconomic Empowerment Programs

For strengthening the economic empowerment of domestic workers, NDWM launched new initiatives like skills training, business skills development for supplemental income...