Punjab

Plight of domestic workers

Many of Pakistan’s child domestic servants work under debt bondage, toiling to pay off debts accrued by their parents

Editorial February 22, 2015

Unprotected by labour laws, these workers have neither a minimum wage, nor a limit on the workload their employers may place on them, and their collective bargaining position is weak. STOCK IMAGE

The rescue of a 12-year-old maid who was allegedly beaten by her employer and had torture marks on her body calls our attention to the plight of domestic workers. Working in the house of a civil servant in Lahore, the child from Sargodha alleged that she was regularly beaten by her employer. In this latest example of an incident of violence against domestic workers, the 12-year-old was beaten with a steel hanger for snatching a book from her employer’s son. The Child Welfare and Protection Bureau rescued her. This incident brings to mind the case of Shazia Masih — the 12-year-old maid working in the home of a Lahore Bar advocate — who was evidently brutalised and died in mysterious circumstances.

Many of Pakistan’s child domestic servants work under debt bondage, toiling to pay off debts accrued by their parents. Disturbingly, Punjab has contributed more than its fair share to abuse cases but the rest of the country has not done much better either. The social currency for employing children for work in otherwise so-called enlightened, urban households underscores our callousness towards domestic help. Many are exploited and physically and sexually abused, but even those who aren’t face humiliation on a daily basis. A large proportion is female, indicating that domestic work reinforces existing gender inequalities and intensifies class divide. Unprotected by labour laws, these workers have neither a minimum wage, nor a limit on the workload their employers may place on them, and their collective bargaining position is weak. It is imperative that Pakistan ratify the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 189, which enhances the rights of domestic workers. We have to strengthen the position of our approximately eight million domestic workers since they form a significant chunk of the informal sector. Those of us who consider ourselves to be enlightened should ensure that we are not furthering the exploitation of an already downtrodden class.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2015.

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COMMENTS (2)

Robbie masih | 9 years ago | Reply Is there a possibility to help Shazia Masih financially. If I knew that money will go to her directly and to the parents, I will be willing to give her money so that she can go to school and get medical help.

Toticalling | 9 years ago | Reply I compare the domestic situation in Pakistan with that of South Africa. When apartheid ended in 1994, just over 20 years ago, blacks were mainly employed as domestic help, without any wage agreements and any rights. Within 10 years of the new government, laws were passed to fix a minimum wage, limits to working hours and introduction of a pension fund which was shared by the employers and government. Now the system works very well. In Pakistan, on the other hand, things are as bad, if not worse, when the country got freedom nearly 70 years ago. The only reason I can see is lack of interest and attitudes of indifference and self interest of the ruling classes. To make matters worse, other issues are aired not to awaken people's basic desires. They talk of being Punjabis, sindhis or Mohajirs, although a poor Mohajir is as much exploited as a poor punjabi. The battles should be creating better working conditions for the poor and those who are doing the domestic work. Thanks for pointing out the concerns of the poor, who have no voice in media.

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