The movement for recognition of rights of domestic workers in the country is going to get a massive fillip on August 9 when over one lakh of them will gather for a meeting in New Delhi.
As a prelude to the meeting, a signature campaign is being taken up across the country to demand that the Indian government ratify Convention C-189 which was passed at the International Labour Organisation meet held in Geneva on June 16, 2011.
Weekly holiday
Addressing a gathering of domestic workers here on Tuesday, Montfort Social Institute Director, Varghese Theckanath said that they would try and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 9 and urge him to bring in a legislation to protect the rights of domestic workers, many of them women, working without basic rights.
“We demand that the domestic workers have a weekly holiday, 15 days paid leave and medical insurance. They should be brought under the ambit of social security by providing them with accident insurance,’’ said Mr. Varghese.
Life of dignity
Mother General of St. Anns Society Anthonamma said that domestic workers have a right to live a life of dignity and added that they should be provided with basic amenities. The domestic workers federation has been working for the uplift of this community.
AP Domestic Workers Federation convener Vyakula Mary said that they have been agitating for workers’ rights for the last 20 years. Social activist Sajaya called upon women to stand up for their rights. Dalit Bahujan Front national general secretary Mella Bhagya Rao said that a majority of the workforce belongs to Dalit communities.
