Domestic workers’ strike tomorrow in Kerala

Domestic workers in Kerala would strike work tomorrow demanding that the government constitute a board for taking up welfare measures in the sector and formulate a legislation to protect the rights of the workers.

Sister Sali Michael, co-ordinator of the state unit of National Domestic Workers’ Movement, told reporters here today the workers would start a campaign across the State from tomorrow in co-operation with the women’s group SEWA.

Public meetings would be held at several centres in various districts tomorrow as part of the campaign.

Among other demands of the movement were the setting up of a system to regulate the working hours of domestic helps, registration of employer and introduction of other social security measures, she said.

Domestic workers were being exploited by employers including owners of agencies, she said, adding many of the workers were not getting decent wages and good working atmosphere.

She said the State government had last year announced minimum wages for domestic workers after prolonged efforts by the movement. The Centre had also formed a national task force for protecting the rights of domestic workers.