FUNCTIONS & ACTIVITIES  >  Empowering Domestic Workers

Domestic workers - women or children, have always been victims of society. Invisible, rejected and stigmatized, they would surrender themselves to their plight. Through the leadership and capacity building programmes, NDWM works towards creating a collective solidarity that would help them to be positive and creative in the midst of struggle and pain. NDWM helps organise them and encourage their participation in all activities of the Movement.

  Formation of Domestic Workers Group

Groups of domestic workers are organised in each region. The leader in each group is a domestic worker. Fortnightly meetings are conducted by the Movement.

These meetings are a forum for domestic workers to interact with other domestic workers; share their experiences and learn to handle situations from each other. They are made aware of their rights, viz, Right to Information, Domestic Violence Act, Health issues, etc. This gives them an impetus to approach the right authorities whenever an issue requires attention. Further, a strong solidarity is developed which becomes their boost in times of abuse and threat. We have had cases when domestic workers have come together and marched to police stations or media houses to rescue fellow workers or child domestic workers and ensure that justice is given to them.

Also these groups are educated on the importance and benefits of savings, family benefits, pensions and life insurance. They are encouraged and guided in all these areas.
 

  Leadership and Capacity Building Programmes

These programmes help develop leadership and provide training for active participation in leading the Movement. Through these programmes, domestic workers are also made aware of their rights and the facilities that are available for them.

Leadership Skills training like Personality Development, Formation and working of Self Help Groups, Legal Training sessions are conducted for the leaders of the Domestic Workers’ Group.

Awareness programmes on the following topics are conducted:

• Health issues viz, AIDS, Alcoholism, malria, chikungunya, etc.

• Laws and legislations, viz Right to Information (RTI Act), Domestic Violence Act, Minimum Wage Act, Social Security Bill,

• Government schemes: water supply, ration cards, social security schemes, housing rights, education, etc.

• Importance and benefits of savings groups

• Human and Child Rights
   

  Capacity Building Programmes:

These programmes enable domestic workers to be more efficient at their jobs thereby enhances the dignity of their labour in society. Capacity Building programmes are conducted through various means including training sessions, guest talks, exposure visits, role plays, skits, movies, case studies etc.

Some of the programmes include:

• Personality Development

• Employer-Employee relationship mangement

• Health & Hygiene issues

• Child or elderly care
   

  Workshops

  Workshops are conducted for the following:

• domestic workers, child domestic workers and migrant workers
• employers
• government bodies
• schools
• parents of potential child domestic workers

  The topics discussed include:

• non-formal education

• children’s rights, domestic workers’ rights and migrant workers' rights

• sex education

• health and hygiene

• sexual harassment at the workplace

• implications of migrating to a metropolitan city

• implications of migrating to a foreign country

• trafficking