Vichaar- The economy of domestic care work- In Conversation with Kiran Moghe

In this episode of Vichaar, we speak with Kiran Moghe, a trade unionist and long-time labour activist associated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Drawing from decades of work with organisations such as the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and the Pune Zilla Ghar Kamgar Sanghatna, Moghe reflects on the structural invisibility of domestic workers, the stigma attached to their labour and the systemic interests that subsidise care work for households and the state alike.The discussion traces the pathways that push women into domestic work—from rural distress and limited education to the perceived flexibility and relative stability of urban employment—while exposing the everyday vulnerabilities they face, including long working hours, lack of leave, false accusations and the absence of social security. Moghe also highlights the challenges of unionising an unorganised, household-based workforce and the persistent shift in state policy from recognising workers’ rights to distributing welfare benefits. Ultimately, the conversation argues for the urgent need to regulate domestic work as work—bringing dignity, rights, and accountability into the intimate economies of care.