KARACHI: Domestic workers being mistreated, seminar told
KARACHI, May 19: The participants of a workshop on “Problems of domestic workers” underscored the need for legislation to safeguard the rights of male and female workers serving in homes.
The day-long workshop, jointly organized by the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid and the National Institute for Labour Administration Training, Karachi, on Saturday last, formulated over 30 recommendations for submission to the government.
Sindh minister for labour, Adil Siddiqui, was the chief guest at the concluding session of the workshop. President LHRLA Zia Ahmed Awan, D-G NILAT Syed Hakim Ali Shah Bukhari, chairperson, Women Development Centre, University of Karachi, Dr. Khalida Ghous, ASP Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Adnan Aamir, representatives of CPLC, Pakistan Women Lawyers‘ Association, Research & Social Training Institute, advocates and a group of female domestic workers attended the workshop.
The recommendations include codification of domestic workers, fixation of minimum wages for them as per their nature of job; right to avail weekly off, public holidays, medical and maternity leave; mandatory registration of domestic workers at union council office, labour department or police stations; social security coverage to domestic workers; setting up of welfare fund for them, like industrial workers, right to form unions etc.
The participants further suggested that the employment exchanges be reactivated and made effective to play role as the people who require domestic worker could register their demand and seek suitable workers through these institutions.
The minister asked the organizers of the workshop to submit him all the recommendations for consideration at appropriate forum as legislative matters were involved in it.
He, however, announced that 100 children of domestic workers would be imparted free training in IT and different trades at technical training centres.
Earlier, the participants deplored that domestic workers, specially the female workers, are not treated well and are subjected to mental and physical torture and sexual abuse. Moreover, they are paid very low wages.
Dr. Khalida Ghous, referring to a study, spoke about mass involvement of women in informal sector in 1990s and said the women were in majority in this sector.
ASP Adnan Aamir said that 99 per cent cases of violence against domestic workers at the hands of their employers are not reported to the police.
The female domestic workers narrated their plight and the conditions in which they have to work at different homes.—PPI
