For Tapsi Moira, 38, a domestic worker living in South Kolkata, life has changed ever since she became part of an organisation of domestic workers. In late 2014, the organisation applied for trade union status. Since then she had to go to the Labour Department’s office in central Kolkata almost daily from her south Kolkata home in Dhakuria after work to inquire about the status of their application.
The struggle of Ms. Moira and other members of the organisation — Paschimbanga Griha Paricharika Samit (PGPS-West Bengal Domestic Workers Society) — paid off earlier this week when they received the trade union certificate from the State government.
It is the first organisation of domestic workers to be granted trade union status in the State, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) trade union leader and Minister said.
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“Everyday I set out for work at 6 am and return home in the afternoon. Since 2014 I had to rush to the Labour Department’s office several days a week to ensure that our organisation is granted trade union status,” Ms. Moira told The Hindu. She is a former secretary of PGPS and currently a State Committee member.