Domestic workers form an invisible, unrecognised and underpaid segment of the workforce. There is deep reluctance to recognise their rights to fair wages and working conditions as are available to other workers. SEWA Union - Kerala secretary Sonia George spoke to The Hindu about the problems faced by domestic workers and steps under way to improve their lot. Excerpts:
The primary demand of domestic workers’ organisations is legislative protection for them…
We have been seeking that India ratify the ‘Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers’ adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
This would mean introduction of a comprehensive legislation to regulate the domestic work sector. The Domestic Workers Regulation of Work and Social Security Bill was submitted to the Union government in 2017, but there has been no action on it, except for discussions on a draft national policy for domestic workers.
How is regulation important?
Domestic workers may have a work card or a union card but lack official identification or recognition as a domestic worker.
So, if they file a complaint, they have no legal backing really.
There is no proof that they are employed in a household. The government should be ready to intervene in this and should not allow the process of registration to drag on. Similarly, the employers’ role has to be clearly defined, but we are yet to reach there. In Kerala, only a few thousand domestic workers are registered with the Unorganised Sector Social Security Board.
Kerala has a social security board. What else needs to be done?
Domestic workers are currently eligible for pension, marriage allowance for themselves or their girl child, educational benefits, and health benefits under the RSBY. However, this is far from adequate. Employers’ contribution is negligible for domestic workers. Unlike in other sectors, employers here are not visible. Only if a mechanism is put in place for employers’ contribution can domestic workers’ welfare be ensured.
What are the programmes planned to press the cause of domestic workers?
We are planning a national protest on August 9 to seek a legislation for domestic workers and to highlight the adverse impact of labour law reforms on domestic workers. For instance, we had been pressing for including domestic workers in the wage schedule, but were told there would be no schedule now.
Without a domestic workers category, there is no base to fight for their rights. Similarly, there are restrictions on collective bargaining in the new labour code on wages. However, Kerala has notified minimum wages for domestic workers.
In the State, SEWA will continue the ‘My Fair Home’ campaign that aims at getting employers to declare that rights of domestic workers would be respected in their homes. We have covered nearly 50,000 households through awareness campaigns involving both employers and workers. SEWA, in association with the district administration, is also campaigning to restart discussion on how the anti-sexual harassment Act can help domestic workers. A workshop will be held at the district collectorate here on this on June 18.
You recently returned from the International Labour Conference in Geneva. Did anything that could make life better for domestic workers happen there?
One of the agendas this year was ‘Violence at workplace.’ Discussions were held, including on domestic workers in the standard-setting document on ending violence in workplaces and giving representation to migrant domestic workers in it.
