Housemaids demand rights

Protests against long work hours, low wages, rude behaviour lodged

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of civil society have demanded of the quarters concerned to set up a regulatory body to look after domestic workers as presently there was no such mechanism to address their issues, who do different works as housemaid.

They work for long hours face challenges like low wages, rude behaviour, late salaries and sometime allegations of theft and even faced imprisonment on wrong charges. Amina Bibi, who works for a family as maidservant since 2015 at Sector F-6, said: “My entire family members have been serving this family for long time but we face a new allegation or threat from them daily.” Salma Bibi, another domestic worker said: “I have been working as housemaid for the last 15 years but winning the hearts of house owners remains a tough task.” Asifa Gulraiz, a maidservant said .

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2018.