“We wash their utensils but separate utensils are kept for giving food to us. We clean their toilets but we aren’t allowed to use them.”
These were the words of domestic workers who were sharing their experiences at their regional convention held on the occasion of International Domestic Workers’ Day on Thursday.
The convention was organised by Sangrami Gharelu Kaamgaar Union (SGU) at Masoodpur Community Centre in Vasant Kunj, Delhi.
वर्कर्स यूनिटी को सपोर्ट करने के लिए सब्स्क्रिप्शन ज़रूर लें- यहां क्लिक करें
It must be noted that domestic workers are almost exclusively women.
They are not given paid leaves and are expected by their employers to work seven days a week.
Addressing the gathering, domestic workers said that their employers get weekend holidays to relax.
But it becomes all the more burdensome for them as they have to cook and clean more on those days.
Pressing on the importance of their role, speakers said that if they are unable to go to work even for a day, their employer is forced to skip work to do the chores.
So in a way, all other offices and workplaces are able to run essentially because of the labour of domestic workers, they said.
Treated as easily disposable objects
They said that they are treated as easily disposable items. If they fall sick and can’t make it to work for a couple of days, they are swiftly replaced by another worker without being informed.
If they ask for even two days off, their employers question them saying, what for.
They said that they are called maids in front of strangers and not addressed by their names. They feel that they are not given the dignity that they deserve.
They no fixed minimum wage for them as they are considered labourers under labour laws.
- UN: घरेलू कामगारों के लिए सबसे ज्यादा घातक साबित हुआ कोरोना, रोजगार में भारी गिरावट
- ऐतिहासिक सफलताः कोलकाता में बनी घरेलू कामगारों की यूनियन
What are their demands?
Along with sharing these experiences, they also demanded rights that they have been deprived of.
Their demands are as follows
1). They must be given four days off in a month and paid leaves, just like any other worker who comes under the purview of labour laws.
2). The employer must give prior notice a month before firing them.
3). If they work for more than six months with an employer, once a year they must be a month’s salary as a bonus.
4). They should not be accused of stealing without investigation or evidence. Action must be taken against the harassment of domestic workers.
5). Social security benefits like maternity leave and old age pension after the age of 60 must be given.
6). Government must construct public toilets for them and it should bear the cost as well.
7). They must be included in Delhi and the central government’s scheduled occupations and must be protected under labour laws.
(वर्कर्स यूनिटी के फ़ेसबुक, ट्विटर और यूट्यूब को फॉलो कर सकते हैं। टेलीग्राम चैनल को सब्सक्राइब करने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें। मोबाइल पर सीधे और आसानी से पढ़ने के लिए ऐप डाउनलोड करें।)
