A domestic worker in Chennai who registers with the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Board can claim ₹1,25,000 if a family member dies in an accident, education grants for children, marriage and maternity help, and a monthly pension. The board is one of 18 unorganised workers’ welfare boards run by the state Labour Department, and registration is free and online.
Domestic work also has a notified minimum wage in Tamil Nadu, last revised by a government order in November 2022. This guide covers both: how to register and claim, and what the wage rules say.
Who can register
The board covers people employed in households: cooking, cleaning, washing, caring for children or elders, and similar work, whether part-time across several homes or full-time in one. The Labour Department lists it as the 14th of the state’s unorganised workers’ boards. It operates under the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Act, 1982, along with 15 other boards grouped under the Manual Workers Social Security and Welfare Board.
Online registration started on 19 June 2020, and identity cards have been issued online since July 2020. Renewal and claim applications are verified by the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Social Security Scheme) in each district.
How to register
- Go to the Unorganised Workers Welfare Board portal, tnuwwb.tn.gov.in, and click New Registration.
- Choose the Domestic Workers Welfare Board and enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Fill in personal, family and bank details, and nominate a family member.
- Upload the documents asked for. Workers have typically been asked for ration card, Aadhaar, bank passbook and passport-size photographs, Citizen Matters reported. The portal also has a list of essential documents.
- Submit, note the application number, and download your identity card once approved.
If you cannot do it yourself, an e-Sevai centre or a domestic workers’ union can help. Keep the card and renew it on time; claims are paid only to members whose registration is live.
Benefits from the board
| Benefit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Accidental death | ₹1,25,000 |
| Accidental disability | Up to ₹1,00,000 |
| Natural death | ₹30,000 |
| Funeral expenses | ₹5,000 |
| Marriage | ₹5,000 (women), ₹3,000 (men) |
| Maternity | ₹6,000 (₹3,000 for miscarriage or termination) |
| Children’s education | ₹1,000 to ₹8,000 by course level |
| Pension | ₹1,200 a month |
These are the rates for the group of boards that includes domestic workers, as listed in the Labour Department’s 2025-26 policy note. The department’s boards page shows a lower pension figure of ₹1,000 in its table, so confirm the current rate when you apply. Spectacles reimbursement of up to ₹500 is also listed.
The minimum wage for domestic work
Domestic work is a scheduled employment under the Minimum Wages Act in Tamil Nadu. The state first fixed rates through G.O.(2D) No. 72 of 18 July 2018 and revised them through G.O.(2D) No. 99 of 8 November 2022, whose preliminary notification was confirmed, according to the department’s minimum wages page.
The 2022 order is a scanned document, and its rate table could not be read for this article, so we are not quoting a figure. For reference, the 2018 rates were reported at ₹37 to ₹39 an hour depending on skill, with live-in workers due 10% more. Those have since been revised. Rates are hourly and vary by task and skill, so a cook and a cleaner may have different minimums. To check yours, open the G.O. on the Labour Department site or ask the local Assistant Commissioner of Labour.
Workers’ groups say the current rates are too low. The Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust has asked for ₹100 an hour, along with PF and ESI coverage and protection under the sexual harassment law, DT Next reported in June 2025. No new revision had been notified as of October 2026.
For employers in Chennai
- Pay at least the notified rate for the hours and type of work, and pay on a fixed date.
- Agree on weekly off, leave and working hours in writing, even informally.
- Help your worker register with the board. It costs you nothing and gives the family a safety net.
Quick answers
Is there a fee to join the Domestic Workers Welfare Board?
The official pages reviewed do not mention a registration fee. Be cautious of anyone who asks for money to register you.
What is the minimum wage for a maid in Chennai?
It is set by G.O.(2D) No. 99 of 2022 on an hourly basis by task and skill. Check the order on labour.tn.gov.in for the current figure.
Can a part-time worker in several homes register?
Yes. The board is meant for domestic workers whether they work in one household or several.
Who do I complain to about unpaid wages?
The Labour Department’s inspectors handle minimum wage claims. For a dispute, consider advice from a union or lawyer.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Unorganised Workers Welfare Boards: boards and benefits (Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Minimum wages G.O.s, including G.O.(2D) No. 99 of 8 November 2022 on domestic work (Labour Department, Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Policy Note 2025-26, Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Tamil Nadu Unorganised Workers Welfare Board registration portal (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- TN domestic workers place key demands to govt (DT Next, 16 June 2025)
- How government schemes can help domestic workers (Citizen Matters, 5 December 2019)
- Tamil Nadu sets minimum wage for domestic help (The Better India, 3 August 2018)
