Parlours, health clubs, spas, wellness centres, unisex salons fall under regular business category for which licences are issued by the Greater Chennai Corporation and No-objection certificates are given by police and health departments. The Chennai city has 900 massage parlours/spas, only 100 have all these licenses. Most of these parlours are run by the funds from abroad. The owners also sometimes are not of Chennai, are from Assam, Delhi and North-East.

Mostly for these types of work Female migrants who are fair are invited into. All these beautiful women come from North-East for massage parlours. Though the therapists are paid well, their working conditions and living conditions are at loss. Their working hours is from 9.30 to 10pm daily, and no holidays on Sundays. There are no PF, ESI, maternity leave. They are like casual workers without any contract. Hire and Fire is the policy followed by the management. Monthly salary due
date is on 10 th or 15 th of the following month. Salary is paid in cash and in Gpay. Their living quarters rent, food, medical and taking care of their family becomes a huge stress during their work. Sometimes difficulty in visiting their own state to see their families is also under big expense.