In a remarkable move, the Vasundhara Raje-led Rajasthan government has set a minimum wage for domestic helps and instituted time limits on their working hours.

Enforcing labour reforms in the unorganised sector, the government has set Rs 5,642 per month as the minimum wage for an entire day's chores - including cooking, washing, baby sitting and other work. The workday is restricted to eight hours for the purpose of these calculations.

This minimum wage is exclusive of any food or clothes that the employer might provide.

In case of overtime, employers will have to pay workers double the minimum fixed per hour for each hour beyond the mandated eight hours, says a report in a news daily.

Also, if an employer is paying more than the prescribed minimum wage, then he or she must continue paying the higher amount.

Furthermore, domestic helps hired for just washing dishes and laundry will have to be paid a minimum Rs 705 per month for a household of four people. If the households consists of more than 4 people, 10% extra will have to be paid over the minimum.

The Union labour ministry has been seeking to ensure minimum salary of Rs 9,000 per month, compulsory paid leave of 15 days a year and maternity leave, as well as social security for domestic helps.

Labour inspectors will be urged to carry out surprise checks in every district to implement the reforms.

Dhanraj Sharma, additional labour commissioner, said, "Domestic workers were included in Scheduled 27 of the Minimum Wages Act eight years ago. But, we have now fixed the number of working hours for them to ensure they are paid well. Violators will be liable for prosecution, and domestic worker eligible for compensation as high as 10 times the difference between the minimum wage and the amount he or she was received."