We are often wrongly accused of crimes: domestic helps

“Bringing them together under a union will help strengthen their cause”

MADURAI, TAMILNADU, 16/06/2015. : Members of the Domestic Workers Association staging a demonstration in Madurai on June 16, 2015. Photo: S. James

Rajakumari (name changed), a domestic help, says that she had to leave her last job after she was falsely accused of stealing 70 sovereigns of gold jewellery and subsequently harassed by the family.

“Though I have not done anything, they branded me a thief and filed a police complaint against me. Later, when I had to go to the police with a personal problem, they mocked at me and taunted me saying that there was already a complaint against me and refused to take me seriously,” she rued.

On International Domestic Workers’ Day, which was observed across the world on Tuesday, many domestic helps from the city said that being treated with dignity at their place of work was the need of the hour.

P. Clara, State Coordinator of Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers’ Union, said that they had been lobbying for a minimum pay of Rs. 60 per hour for domestic helps who were not paid even half of the sum.

Ill-treated

“There have been numerous instances of domestic workers being verbally abused by their employers in the city and accused of stealing. Many of them are terminated from work without any warning, before festivals like Deepavali, since employers think that they will have to give them a bonus,” she said.

A. Nagamani, a domestic help, said that she worked in different houses every day and got paid between Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500.

Low pay

“We get paid very less for the amount of work we do. In houses where we are required to wash vessels, clothes, swipe and wipe the floors and look after the general upkeep, we ask for at least Rs. 3,000 a month, but only get a maximum of Rs. 2,000,” she said.

Having worked as a domestic help for many years, Panchavarnam said that most of them had taken jobs at multiple houses since the pay was less.

“After completing chores at more than five houses, we have to get back to our homes. At the end of the day, we are physically and mentally exhausted since we are not able to make ends meet,” she said.

Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers’ Union in Madurai has less than 1,000 members. “There are more than 1.5 lakh women working as domestic helps in the district. Bringing them all together under a union could help strengthen our cause and fight to implement a minimum wage rule,” she said.