Domestic workers hold meeting

A large number of domestic workers held a meeting under the aegis of Gharelu Kamgar Union (GKU) on June 16 — on the eve of International Domestic Workers’ Day — to share their work conditions and the way forward.

They came from all over the city, including areas such as Chakkarpur, Badshahpur, Tigra Gaon, Ghata Gaon, Nathupura, Wazirabad, Saraswati Kunj, Harijan Colony and Neem Talla.

Addressing the gathering, GKU convener Maya John said the domestic work industry in India is one of the most unregulated sectors where millions toil without any legal apparatus to protect their rights.

Behind closed doors

Working behind closed doors in private homes they have few legal protections, and experience exploitation and abuse daily, said Ms. John.

The helpers who gathered at the meeting shared their experiences of work and the abusive way in which they are usually treated by the employers, who mostly reside in the high-end apartment complexes and societies.

They also emphasised the indifference which the police and the district administration demonstrated towards their everyday plight.

The International Domestic Workers’ Day was observed amid rising trend of domestic workers being abused and physically assaulted by employers in the NCR region.