Telangana Domestic Workers Union and the National Workers Movement have demanded immediate constitution of a welfare board for the unorganised workers so that domestic workers could be benefited thereof.
While the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh has already begun the process of issuing identity cards for the unorganised workers through the welfare board, in Telangana the board is yet to be constituted. Compensation in case of deaths, and health insurance are being offered in AP through the board, as per the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
At an event organised on the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day here on Friday, representatives of the organisations also demanded extension of Employees State Insurance benefits, to domestic workers, and comprehensive legislation for domestic workers, and ratification of International Labour Organisation’s Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers in the State and the country.
Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission T.Venkataratnam said most legislations do not include domestic workers. Hence, the governments should ensure that all the schemes for the underprivileged are applied to the domestic workers too. Preference should be given to the domestic workers in implementation of the housing schemes, and insurance benefits should be provided for health and life. Coordinator of the NWM, Lissy Joseph said 24 countries have ratified the C-189 of ILO, and India should sign it up too. Though some countries have provided a few rights to the domestic workers, still a majority of them have little freedom, labour rights, social protection, she said.
ESI benefits
Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya had announced ESI benefits for domestic workers last October, yet the state has not taken initiative in enrolling the workers into the scheme. Similar is the case with the implementation of ‘National Health Protection Scheme’ of the Central government. Moreover, the State government has stopped implementing the ‘Arogyasri’ scheme too.
The state has over 10 lakh domestic workers, of whom, about 6 lakh live in Hyderabad. Majority of them are women, and about 35 per cent of them are heads of the household owing to widowhood, desertion, sickness, unemployment or alcoholism of the partner, Coming from underprivileged backgrounds, most of them are deprived of decent working conditions, just wages, social protection and dignified life, Dr. Joseph said.
The organisations have demanded establishment of grievance redressal cell to deal with any dispute arising out of work contract, and to offer training and offer certification. of workers.
Participant organisations included Progressive Organisation of Women, Aman Vedika, and Caring Citizens Collective, among others.
