|
|
 |
|
ABOUT DOMESTIC WORKERS > Domestic
Workers |
|
|
|
|
The National Domestic Workers’ Movement (NDWM)
works with domestic workers in India and Indian migrants
working abroad. Domestic workers, particularly child workers
and live-ins, are routinely denied basic rights. They comprise
one of the most vulnerable and exploited groups of the
unorganized sector.
|
|
Domestic Work is Slavery
Public Interest Litigation, National Domestic
Workers’ Welfare Trust and Others (Petitioners) versus
Union of India (Respondent). This lawsuit seeks to
compel the respondent to enact comprehensive litigation
protecting the rights of domestic workers throughout
India. Issued On April 10, 2003,
The Supreme Court of India stated, in its ruling of PUDR
vs. Union of India "it is obvious that ordinarily no one
would willingly supply labour or service to another for
less than the minimum wage, when he knows that under the
law he is entitled to get minimum wage for the service
provided by him. It may therefore be legitimately
presumed that when a person provides labour or service
to another against receipt of remuneration which is less
than the minimum wage, he is acting under the force of
some compulsion which drives him to work, though he is
paid less than what he is entitled under law to receive"
(Reg. Domestic Workers - 2000 PIL , Paragraph 14).
|
|
|
 Domestic
Workers and their Conditions of Work:
|
-
 Nearly 90% of domestic workers are women,
girls or children, ranging from ages 12 to 75 and it is
estimated that 25% are below the age of 14
-
Mostly
women who leave their own homes to look after other people’s
homes
-
The majority of domestic workers are
illiterate
-
Domestic Workers are engaged in such tasks
as cooking, washing, and cleaning, which are traditionally
seen as women's work and are therefore looked down upon and
treated as less than humans.
-
In India, the stigma for domestic work is
heightened by the caste system, as tasks such as cleaning
and sweeping are associated with low castes.
-
Domestic Workers are referred to as
‘servants’ and ‘maids’ which has resulted in their feelings
of insecurity and inferiority. This has further led to the
indignity inflicted upon them and their work.
-
Domestic Workers are highly exploited and
denied just and humane wages. Domestic workers are paid well
below the minimum wage for unskilled and semi-skilled
workers.
-
Labor laws do not cover Domestic Workers.
They are not recognized as workers, hence do not enjoy legal
protection, rights and dignity.
-
The working hours of Domestic Workers can go
upto 8 to 18 hours a day. Wage, leave facilities, medical
benefits and rest time depend totally on the employer.
-
Domestic Workers are victims of suspicion.
If anything is missing in the house, they are the first to
be accused with threats, physical violence, police
conviction and even dismissal.
A great number of live-in Domestic Workers
are recruited from villages or tribal areas. They have to
adapt to an alien environment, culture, and language. Domestic
Workers experience a tremendous sense of loneliness because of
the solitary nature of the work. This loneliness is compounded
by the fact that most have no or very little time off and
because they are unable to communicate with distant friends
and relatives due to illiteracy. Often they are not allowed to
use the telephone and are prohibited from socializing with
friends and relatives who are living and working in the same
city.
|
| |
|
Factors
that Drive them Into this Labour |
|
Push factors |
|
-
Deepening Poverty, failure of government
programmes to make an impact on poverty reduction and the
adverse impact of globalisation has further impoverished the
poor.
-
Family problems: rural and male
unemployment, disputes, ill-treatment, loss of parent/s.
-
Natural Calamities and poor rehabilitation
of victims who are displaced due to natural disasters like
earthquake, floods, drought, etc.
-
Biased religious and cultural practices that
go against women and children.
-
Porous borders and weak law enforcement in
the border areas due to inefficient or corrupt policing.
-
Ever increasing debt burden due to failing
crops.
-
Often Domestic Workers are single parents,
widowed, estranged or with alcoholic husbands. They require
to work for the survival of their children.
|
|
|
Pull factors |
|
-
Demand for cheap labour in growing market
economies.
-
Increasing number of working couples,
residing as nuclear family units, create a larger need for
more Domestic Workers.
-
The preference of children in domestic work
as they are powerless, docile and less likely to organise
against abuse.
-
Women’s unequal status and commodification
of women with patriarchial structures
-
Glamour of city life
-
Rising consumerism and lack of access to
education
-
False image of security and a stable,
healthy environment in the home of the employer
-
Debt bondage
-
Inaccessibility to education—every child
outside school and at work is child labour.
|
|
|
Domestic workers summarizes three main groups of
workers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
| |
|
