Baby’s day (left) out: Mothers leave children with hired help at Civil Secretariat

Employees cannot take children to office; ladies’ toilets remain scarce commodity

PESHAWAR: Being carried through parked cars, an inquisitive nine-month-old takes a peek in one of the vehicles – one of the many ways to stay occupied while her mother spends the day working at the Civil Secretariat. She is carried by 10-year-old Suleman*, an Afghan national, who has been hired by the mother to take care of the girl during office hours.

Clad in a black shalwar kameez, Suleman takes Ayesha* along to peep into cars, moving from one vehicle to another to keep the girl entertained and perhaps, more importantly, quiet.

“I am told that our seniors don’t like me bringing my daughter to office as she cries and makes noise, but I can’t leave her at home,” the employee says, choosing to remain anonymous as she fears a departmental enquiry would be conducted against her for speaking to the media.

“I have had no choice, but to hire the services of Suleman,” she explains. “He is my neighbour. Suleman keeps Ayesha at the office premises during work hours and brings her in the afternoon for feeding.”

Just as she finishes feeding the child and hands her over to Suleman, a man calls her to the office from the lobby and she goes up.

The mother, like all other women in the Civil Secretariat, complains about the lack of the most primeval facilities. She points out there are no common rooms, women’s washrooms, playrooms for children, prayer rooms or a cafeteria.

“We have been forced to keep our mouth shut from the beginning and don’t have the courage to ask for our rights,” she reveals. “At least we should have separate washrooms and a playroom for the children. The government has huge resources and funds to get these facilities.”

She adds that a majority of women staffers use the Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s ladies’ toilets. “The washroom issue is for mainly for lower cadres, but the other needs are collective.”

Another woman who works at a different department is also looking for a girl who can take care of her child during office hours. She can be seen asking her colleagues for any possible leads.

Even some of the men staffers of different departments want the government to arrange for separate washrooms, daycare centres and common rooms for women colleagues.

“All that is needed is to dedicate a hall for the daycare centre and the non-governmental organisations will happily set it up,” a secretary at one of the departments says. He explains the funds and space are there; now all that is needed is the will. He estimates that not more than 100 women are working at the secretariat.

“You have to do it because the number of women is increasing every year and you cannot ignore the issue by closing your eyes,” the official adds.

K-P Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department legal drafter Shagufta Naveed recalls Former CM Akram Khan Durrani announcing the establishment of daycare centres at government offices for working mothers.

”The government has yet to give practical shape to the announcement from December 2006,” she said.

She also believes that the officers’ cadres are relatively facilitated compared to employees in lower ranks.

Naveed also welcomes the separate compartment proposal, saying “it is feasible and achievable”. The administration department secretary, Hassan Mehmood Yousafzai, could not be reached for comments. However, his office personnel say the government is working on the matter and will provide a peon for women employees.

*NAMES CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITY

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st,  2016.