A voice for the voiceless
Pakistan must come up with an operative legislative framework that protects the rights of domestic workers.
The writer is a lawyer and a researcher in a think tank based in Lahore and holds a law degree from the University of London
Change is inevitable yet we all resist it. It takes strength to challenge the status quo, to contest the set norms and practices of society and to adapt to major transformations, but only those societies that are willing to reform their practices will progress in future.
One such change that is required in Pakistan is related to the safeguarding of rights and provision of a voice to domestic workers — the suppressed segment of our society, the ones who have been silenced for years. We all raise our voices for this cause and although, doing so is a precondition, it is not enough. Our government officials, leaders, civil society and individuals have failed to take concrete steps to improve the conditions of such workers who are the lifeline of the majority of families in Pakistan. Societal change is only possible when governments take responsibility and become catalysts for change, in spite of the endless challenges. It happens when we educate our masses about the rights of other human beings, when we actually are willing to enhance the everyday lives of the poorest of the poor.
In order to ensure the protection of the rights of these workers, insightful lessons can be learnt from the practices followed in developed countries. Pakistan must come up with an operative legislative framework that protects the rights of domestic workers. In order to achieve that, it needs to generate appropriate knowledge about domestic workers in the country and conduct an analysis of the situation of these workers across Pakistan. This obviously requires proficient researchers having expertise in labour issues. The information gathered can be utilised strategically to propose national policies and programmes to protect domestic workers, as well as national action plans.
Given the inadequate legal coverage that exists in our society when it comes to domestic workers, we are not only in dire need of legislative initiatives that solely address the necessities and demands of these workers but we should also ensure that such initiatives provide for codified rights and entitlements. Pakistan first needs to develop a domestic workers’ bill of rights. Moreover, it must ensure domestic workers’ right to access courts and assign the labour departments to supervise compliance with such a bill or law. Under Convention 189 on Domestic Workers, this includes the requirement to develop and implement rules for labour inspection and enforcement.
The government should hold a tripartite consultation bringing together domestic workers, government officials and civil society representatives. It should strive to hold inclusive social dialogues with domestic workers’ organisations at all stages of policymaking, including its design and assessment.
To ensure the passage of the domestic workers bill of rights, the media in Pakistan must be involved as it has a major role to play as an important stakeholder. The media was the driving force behind the passage of Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in New York in 2010. The importance of the domestic workers issue can be built through the media by holding strategic media events, highlighting the voices of domestic workers and exposing abusive employers.
Domestic workers are an indispensable part of the social fabric of Pakistan’s society. Hence, it is mandatory to push for legislation for them. It may be hard to convince those legislators who hold the view that an exorbitant amount of costs are involved in such a proposal, that a bill for this segment of society is a burden. This is indeed a fallacy. Domestic workers, in reality, contribute to the national income and the economy. It is because of them that critical sectors, such as finance, law, health and education work. Formalising domestic work indicates that over time more domestic workers are working over the table, hence, giving boost to the taxable income in the sector. We must acknowledge what a significant part of the economy domestic work is and hence, it is in Pakistan’s best interests to regulate and safeguard this workforce.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.
One such change that is required in Pakistan is related to the safeguarding of rights and provision of a voice to domestic workers — the suppressed segment of our society, the ones who have been silenced for years. We all raise our voices for this cause and although, doing so is a precondition, it is not enough. Our government officials, leaders, civil society and individuals have failed to take concrete steps to improve the conditions of such workers who are the lifeline of the majority of families in Pakistan. Societal change is only possible when governments take responsibility and become catalysts for change, in spite of the endless challenges. It happens when we educate our masses about the rights of other human beings, when we actually are willing to enhance the everyday lives of the poorest of the poor.
In order to ensure the protection of the rights of these workers, insightful lessons can be learnt from the practices followed in developed countries. Pakistan must come up with an operative legislative framework that protects the rights of domestic workers. In order to achieve that, it needs to generate appropriate knowledge about domestic workers in the country and conduct an analysis of the situation of these workers across Pakistan. This obviously requires proficient researchers having expertise in labour issues. The information gathered can be utilised strategically to propose national policies and programmes to protect domestic workers, as well as national action plans.
Given the inadequate legal coverage that exists in our society when it comes to domestic workers, we are not only in dire need of legislative initiatives that solely address the necessities and demands of these workers but we should also ensure that such initiatives provide for codified rights and entitlements. Pakistan first needs to develop a domestic workers’ bill of rights. Moreover, it must ensure domestic workers’ right to access courts and assign the labour departments to supervise compliance with such a bill or law. Under Convention 189 on Domestic Workers, this includes the requirement to develop and implement rules for labour inspection and enforcement.
The government should hold a tripartite consultation bringing together domestic workers, government officials and civil society representatives. It should strive to hold inclusive social dialogues with domestic workers’ organisations at all stages of policymaking, including its design and assessment.
To ensure the passage of the domestic workers bill of rights, the media in Pakistan must be involved as it has a major role to play as an important stakeholder. The media was the driving force behind the passage of Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in New York in 2010. The importance of the domestic workers issue can be built through the media by holding strategic media events, highlighting the voices of domestic workers and exposing abusive employers.
Domestic workers are an indispensable part of the social fabric of Pakistan’s society. Hence, it is mandatory to push for legislation for them. It may be hard to convince those legislators who hold the view that an exorbitant amount of costs are involved in such a proposal, that a bill for this segment of society is a burden. This is indeed a fallacy. Domestic workers, in reality, contribute to the national income and the economy. It is because of them that critical sectors, such as finance, law, health and education work. Formalising domestic work indicates that over time more domestic workers are working over the table, hence, giving boost to the taxable income in the sector. We must acknowledge what a significant part of the economy domestic work is and hence, it is in Pakistan’s best interests to regulate and safeguard this workforce.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.