KARACHI, Sept 4: Speakers at a seminar— “National Consultation on Domestic Workers’ Rights”— on Wednesday recommended special legislation for domestic workers because of their particular working conditions and the tasks they have to perform.
The speakers emphasized that the government should recognize domestic workers as industrial workers so a contract between them and their employers could be established and implemented through specific legislation by the government.
The two-day programme was organized by the lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA).
Advisor to Prime Minister for women development, social welfare and special education, Nilofer Bakhtia,r who was the chief guest at the concluding session, invited recommendations and suggestions from NGOs, human right activists and social and labour organizations for legislation and formulation of a strategy for protection and uplift of domestic workers.
She admitted that there was no legislation and database for domestic workers in the country. However, she said, the government had started its work in this regard and a standing committee in the National Assembly had been constituted for the purpose.
“Committee has realized that there were no laws for the protection of those people who are depressed/ voiceless and are not visible especially female.”
She said that Ministry for Women Development had a national plan of action under which there were cells working for upliftment and welfare of those hapless and voiceless domestic female workers.
She said that under the first phase the Government would collect data about these domestic workers so that it would be able to take immediate steps for their protection and welfare.
Ms Nilofer said that now there was good number of women in the assemblies and any piece of legislation on women’s rights and interests could be easily passed.
She said that domestic women workers were underpaid and harassed sexually, mentally and physically, and their working hours were very long.
She pointed out that about 45 per cent of women workers were mentally harassed, 35 per cent physically harassed and twenty five per cent were sexually harassed according to a general survey about working women in the country.
“But when we look at domestic women workers the number of victims goes very high. Threats of sexual abuse multiply for those woman workers who stay at their workplace/ households,” she said adding that the issue needed serious attention from the government and the civil society.
Chairperson of Malaysia’s social organization, CARAM Asia, Dr Irene Fernandez, said domestic workers had been excluded from labour legislation in all Asian countries.
She supported specific legislation for domestic workers defining the number of their working hours and determining pay according to different specialized skills.
She observed that sexual harassment of domestic workers was rampant and they were taken as commodities even by young boys at the houses they worked at. “ Eighty per cent women servants are affected by violence at their workplaces,” she added.
She said one of the key factors aggravating the situation was the invisibility of domestic workers and isolated working conditions they were in. “They have no ways and means to seek redress because it is like one person’s allegation against a household and it is very problematic for them to produce an evidence in their support,” she said.
Director Migrant Service Centre, Sri Lanka, David Soysa, lauded the efforts of the LHRLA and assured them of his help and cooperation.
President LHRLA Zia Awan dwelt upon social and economic problems of domestic workers and presented various suggestions for their betterment.—APP
