Domestic workers demand comprehensive legislation

Geeta Menon, joint secretary, Domestic Workers’ Rights Union, speaking to reporters in Belagavi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

Members of the Domestic Workers Rights’ Union have appealed to all the elected representatives in the State to raise their issue in the winter session and pass laws to protect their interests. The union members held a meeting in Belagavi on Saturday, where they resolved to write letters to all MLAs and MLCs and ask them to fulfil their demands. They also planned to protest during the session.

Later, Geeta Menon, joint secretary, DWRU, told reporters that they would urge all legislators to speak up for domestic workers. She demanded that the State government recognise domestic workers as labourers and provide them social security benefits under various labour laws.

Demands made

“We have been demanding issue of identity cards for domestic workers on the lines of construction workers. This will help them get access to various government schemes,” she said.

“Domestic workers should get equal pay for equal work. They should be given weekly leave. ESI and PF facilities should be provided to them. The government should extend social security benefits to them. They should have assured safety at workplaces,” she said.

Problems faced

“In India, over 10 million domestic workers remain in a state of subservience and vulnerability. Domestic workers face indignity, caste discrimination, criminality, arbitrary dismissal, lack of leave, no wage increments, and the absence of a minimum living wage. They need protection and targetted welfare measures. No ruling party, political entity, or social class acknowledges them, despite their critical role in the care economy that enables households to function. Despite International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, various private bills, and numerous promises, no legislative framework exists to protect them,” she said.

Bills pending

“The Domestic Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2008, and Domestic (Regulation of Work and Social Security) Bill, 2017, have not offered any solution as they have not been passed by the Parliament till date. An attempt to formulate a National Policy on Domestic Workers by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2019 has not been materialised yet. The social security code 2020 that mentions domestic workers as ‘wage workers’ has not helped as it has not been fully implemented. There is need for a comprehensive legislation,” Ms. Menon said.

Activist Dileep Kamat said that the letter to legislators would include demands like setting up of a steering committee to look into issues related to their interests and laws regarding their welfare. “There needs to be a comprehensive legislation for domestic workers welfare in Karnataka, with reference to the provisions of the Constitution and the International Labour organisation conventions,” he said.

“A separate Welfare Board for domestic workers in Karnataka should be constituted on the lines of some states that have already formed such bodies, as per provisions of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008. We also demand that the steering committee is to be led by a chairperson chosen by the unions, workers and well known leaders of the society,” he said.

“No legislator has raised these issue in the sessions. We hope that our elected representatives from Karnataka do that. We have trust in our leaders and in the spirit of the Constitution,” said Vaishali Kammar, convenor.

Leaders like Renuka Ashtekar and others were present.