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The idea of hiring domestic help in Delhi may be highly appealing to expats considering a move to the city. Imagine never having to make a bed, cook, dust, wash the dishes, or do the laundry again. It is far cheaper than in London or New York, so it’s within reach of most expat households. If you add a reliable nanny to the mix, you’ll have that much more time to take up new hobbies or simply put your feet up.
From the moment you arrive in Delhi, you’ll be inundated with advice about household staff. It’s common for unemployed workers to come to your door with dog-eared letters of recommendation from long-departed but still fondly remembered families they’ve worked for in the past. Everyone you meet, from the estate agent and the relocation company to your neighbours and the broadband technician, will have an opinion on domestic help. It can be an overwhelming start in a new country, and it’s part of the culture shock that many new arrivals experience in India.
The safest route to finding good domestic staff in Delhi is via personal recommendations from trusted peers. You can get recommendations from your colleagues, neighbours, and Resident Welfare Association (RWA), as well as other expat families. many Delhi residents book help for part-time cleaning through apps such as Urban Company at short notice.
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Tips for finding and managing domestic staff in Delhi
Before hiring, do full reference checks
When you first arrive in Delhi, treat anyone who turns up at your door in search of work with the same caution you would in any big city, and do full reference checks before you hire. Some door-to-door job seekers have struggled to find work due to issues with past employers, so be careful.
Letters of recommendation are not a guarantee of a good hire, and some are forged, so don’t take them at face value. Always call the former employer yourself for a complete and candid reference.
Whoever you hire, register them with the Delhi Police for verification. The service is free, and you can apply online through the Delhi Police website or hand in a paper form at your local police station. You’ll need a recent photo of your employee, a copy of their ID (usually an Aadhaar card), their local address, and their permanent address back home. Many RWAs insist on police verification before staff can work in the neighbourhood. Check their age on the ID at the same time, since it’s illegal in India to employ a child under 14.
The Delhi government requires agencies that supply domestic workers to register with its Labour Department and hold a licence. It brought in the rules after several cases in which unlicensed agencies exploited or trafficked workers, so ask to see an agency’s licence before you sign anything. Agencies usually charge a placement fee of roughly one month’s wages, and a good agency will find you a replacement if the first hire doesn’t work out.
Research the market norms
In Delhi, the market norms for domestic staff are mostly a matter of custom rather than law. India doesn’t have dedicated legislation for domestic workers. They’re covered by the national Code on Social Security, which has been in force since 2025, but most household jobs in Delhi are still informal arrangements without written contracts.
Word of mouth is the best guide to the going rate, so ask your neighbours and other expats what they pay their staff. Check when they last hired though, because wages for domestic staff in Delhi are noticeably higher than they were a few years ago. Staff who’ve worked in expat homes also tend to expect more than those working in local households.
A fair, liveable wage is the decent thing to offer, and employers who pay one tend to keep good staff for longer. There’s no legal minimum for annual leave for domestic workers in Delhi, so it’s best to agree on time off before your employee starts. Most expat employers give full-time staff one day off a week as well as some paid annual leave.
Part-time staff usually work for several households and spend an hour or two in each, while full-time and live-in staff work for a single family. Live-in staff will expect a room of their own. Many Delhi houses and larger apartments have a separate room for live-in staff, and estate agents often list it as a servant’s room. Employers will generally cover food and utilities in addition to wages.
Many domestic workers in Delhi come from other states, and they often go home for several weeks around major festivals or family occasions. Plan for cover during these trips. It’s also customary to give a bonus of about a month’s salary once a year, usually around Diwali or another important festival for your employee.
Your staff can register for free on the government’s e-Shram portal to access social security schemes, and you can help them through the process if they need it.
Managing household staff
Managing household staff in Delhi is far easier if you’re clear about what you expect from the first day. In a written contract, spell out the salary, benefits, duties, and time off you’ve agreed on. If your employee doesn’t read English, go through the contract together in Hindi or their own language. Wages should be paid by bank transfer or UPI (India’s instant mobile payment system) so that you both have a clear record.
For each member of staff, keep a photo, their full name, their home address, their mobile number, and your copy of the police verification on file. Treat your staff with respect and professionalism. There’s no need to become overly familiar or involved in their personal affairs. Agree on house rules with live-in staff from the start, and consider a short written code of conduct.
Assume nothing. Even if your staff speak English or have worked in other expat homes, show them exactly how you’d like each task done. In the kitchen, for instance, make sure your cook uses filtered water for ice cubes and for rinsing salad.