Social protection: ‘Labour laws should apply to domestic workers’

Speakers call for better wages, social security cover for workers.

LAHORE:

Domestic workers should be recognised as labourers under labour laws and granted rights to minimum wage, social security cover, safe and healthy working environment and protection against torture.

These demands were made at a meeting on Taking Forward Organising of Domestic Workers (DWs) in the Punjab.

Speakers at the session, organised by Homenet Pakistan, asked the government to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention C-189 which relates to rights of domestic workers. They called for domestic workers-friendly legislation according to guidelines provided in the convention.

The event was part of the Gender Equity Programme (GEP) undertaken by Homenet in collaboration with Aurat Foundation (AF) and supported by the USAID. It was a follow-up to the stakeholders’ meeting on June 27.

Tuesday’s meeting started with the address by Senior Programme Officer Javed Pasha. He gave a detailed introduction of the project highlighting its objectives.

Maria Kokab, programme officer, gave an overview of the previous meeting and its outcomes. She informed the participants about the future course of action and invited them to submit their suggestions.

Homenet Pakistan Executive Director Ume Laila Azhar briefed the meeting on the progress made in organising domestic workers in the province.

She said the Labour Department had included domestic workers as a target group for the survey and a census of child labourers it was carrying out.

She said the media had also raised issues facing domestic workers.

This had put pressure on policymakers to include domestic workers in their policies, she said.

Women Workers’ Union secretary general Shaheena Kausar said the organisations working for the rights of domestic workers should share their experiences.

“It is not possible for a few organisations to organise the huge number of domestic workers.”

Shaheena said a union had been registered in Islamabad. The model could be replicated in all Punjab cities, she said.

Labour Education Foundation executive director Khalid Mahmood stressed the need for finalising terms of reference for the organisations working for domestic workers.

“This is imperative. All the alliance partners must be clear about their role and duties.”

He said a campaign would also be launched to lobby the government on the ratification of C-189.

Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) regional director Salman Abid gave his input on the prospects, benefits and issues related to an alliance’s formation.

An open discussion among representatives from different organisations and domestic workers was part of the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2014.