KARACHI, Sept 2: The two-day National Consultation on Domestic Workers‘ Rights that began here on Tuesday noted that female elite of the country were among those exploiting women serving as domestic workers.

The speakers also described the exploitation of domestic workers as ‘modern-day slavery’ and demanded that the issue of domestic workers should also be covered in the labour policy.

The program has been organized by the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.

“ Domestic workers are part of the informal sector having no recognition, because they are considered unproductive and thus have no voice,” said Ms Faryal Gauhar, Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations, addressing the gathering consisting of government officials, representatives of the media and NGOs drawn from across the country. Four women serving as domestic workers also attended the program.

“We have female elite in Pakistan and I would hold them responsible for exploiting the members of the same segment of society,” she observed adding, “I condemn it.”

Dr Irene Fernandez from Malaysia, who is the chairperson CARAM Asia, in her address said the abuse of domestic workers was horrifying, and described it as a global problem.

“The same women who strive for their rights outside their house at the work place change their behaviour when they employ domestic workers to serve at their homes. They do not recognize rights of domestic workers,” Dr Irene said.

Studies on domestic workers in Asian countries, she said, had noted four kinds of conflict— the class conflict, the caste conflict, the gender conflict and the race conflict.

On the occasion the LHRLA presented a report on the findings of researches on domestic workers. Women serving as domestic workers also talked about their plight. Migration patterns and the issue of human trafficking also came under discussion.

Earlier, LHRLA president Zia Ahmed Awan presented a welcome address and shed light on the objectives of holding such programmes for undocumented labour force. The LHRLA theatre group led by Ms Kausar Wazir presented a play highlighting the plight of domestic workers.

Mr David Soysa, Director Migrant Service Centre, Sri Lanka also attended the program.—PPI