Activists push for domestic workers’ rights

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Nov 14, 2014:  A federation of groups fighting for domestic workers’ rights  met in Mumbai last week for the first time, terming it as "another important step" in getting justice to millions domestic workers in the country.

The National Domestic Workers Federation, initiated one year ago, aims to gather trade unions representing the voices and rights of domestic workers from all over India.

The Nov.4-6 meeting brought together 72 Domestic worker leaders from 10 States.

Several eminent speakers and guests from Central Trade Union, Government, Social activists and ILO representatives addressed the participants.

The meet took a critical view of the Proposed Amendments to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and sought ways to effective implementation of strategies for social protection of domestic workers.

Ratification of ILO 189 in the present political scenario, professionalization of domestic work and comprehensive Legislation for Domestic Workers were other issued addressed.

The discussions found that only eight Indian states have fixed minimum wages for domestic workers. The recently proposed amendments of the Minimum Wage Act suggest a National Floor level minimum wage across all industries, and further additions based on industry and region, besides including a cost of living revision periodically. But such considerations are omitted in fixing minimum wages, activists said.

Almost 90 percent of the domestic workers are not paid the monthly minimum wage stipulated by governments, according to a study released in October by the Montfort Social Institute in Hyderabad. Ninety-one percent of the workers surveyed also said they work seven days a week.

According to government estimates India has some 10 million domestic workers. But activists put the number at closed to 30-40 million.

The Unorganized Labor Social Security Act, passed in 2008, provides for setting up of Welfare Boards for administering social security measures like medical insurance, scholarships for children, death benefit and pension in old age.

Domestic workers are required to be registered under the Act, as it provides them recognition as workers. However, many of them have to wait for prolonged periods for the processing of their applications, participants said.

The workshop also dealt with methods of effective advocacy. The four pillars of our democracy such as the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and the media were to be approached with firm doable demands, backed by a strong public support for securing the rights of domestic workers.