They have no individual or collective voice and it is only when one of them dies, allegedly at the hands of their employer that their plight comes into the public domain.
In this instance, the police appear to have acted correctly thus far. The maid died on the way to hospital. Her body is said to have shown signs of physical abuse with signs of binding on her hands and feet. An autopsy is awaited. The police say that a woman, the employer’s wife, has confessed to beating the child to death with a plastic pipe after she was accused of stealing Rs30,000. The family of the woman is saying that she is mentally unstable and, therefore, not responsible for her actions. The police doubt this, seeing it as a ploy.
Whatever the truth of the matter, another child in domestic service has been killed under circumstances that are by no means uncommon. And, unfortunately and quite tragically, there will be other such cases in the future too. It is now for the police and the legal system to ensure that the matter is properly and thoroughly investigated, brought to court and the guilty punished. The dead child and her family deserve justice. The media have a part to play in that, and the fact that the case has made the front page of a leading newspaper, at least, means that her death does not go unnoticed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (4)
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What a shame on our society. I moved to Pakistan for a year in late 1990 after living abroad for few decades. I had noticed many families had maids which were not treated kindly. By the way, many of them were praying five times a day but could not relate piety with kindness and "masawat". Do we really know that many of us are Hippocrates?
Let us learn from other nations how they treat their underprivileged.
Maid murder is not that common, although it must be condemned. What is more disturbing is how such maids and household help is treated.They have no limit to working hours and work as long as the 'masters' wish. They are shouted at, beaten up and mistreated in abundance. The tragedy is that many of those dong this pretend to be liberals.
The family of the woman is saying that she is mentally unstable and, therefore, not responsible for her actions. The police doubt this, seeing it as a ploy.
If woman is mentally ill, there should be a history of her treatment by a psychiatrist / physician. Maid was killed for the simple reason she was suspected for stealing some money that was missing. There should be a law to protect young workers who work as nanny's, maids, housekeepers. There should be a requirement for registration of all minors working in homes. Physical punishment of minor workers should not be allowed. There should also be requirement for tutoring these kids.
very tragic. However, nothing will happen. Change needs to happen with small steps and inculcation of a different mindset. Even if child labour does not completely end, social awareness about the rights of minors and household servnats needsto be prioritised. We need to treat the poor and helpless as humans not our slaves or chattel, the feudal culture and corruption on the basis of 'might is right' and 'money can buy you amnesty/forgiveness/favours' need to be eliminated so our culture of looking down on the poor ends.