by Rakesh Dewan (8810244978)
Most call them ‘maid ‘. Hardly anyone addresses them as ‘house keeper’. The children call them ‘didi’. Different names but all are one when it comes to their utility. Almost no one is able to do without them! Reasons are many. Working women, convenience centric life styles, preoccupation with other pursuits, aversion to certain type of work and so on!
The domestics originate largely from the eastern part of the country. They migrate to Delhi in large numbers as the demand here far outstrips the supply. This gap has certainly given them a bargaining power. From 24/7 to 12 hours to part time, they choose jobs that suit them. Gradually but surely they have learnt to resist snubs and shabby treatment. With them operating as small pressure groups, 2 days off in a month has become an unwritten rule. They often go beyond this break attributing it to sickness, festivals etc.
The foregoing study gives an impression that all is well with them. But try and grasp the following facts-
- Most part timers live in a cramped 10’×10′ room
- No proper sanitation & water supply
- Most employers do not allow them to use toilets in their home
- Keep long hours and pick up more jobs than they should to make more money, affecting their health adversely.
- They have to go home and attend to their own family’s needs too.
- No leisure time at all
- Blaming someone for a missing item starts with them
- They are a part of almost 50 million such workers in the unorganized sector with no rights guaranteed by the Govt. for long.
However, the Domestic Workers Act 2019 allows them a right to form their own associations/unions, right to minimum wages and access to social security, right to enhance their skills, protection from abuse and exploitation, giving them access to courts and tribunals for grievance redressal!
National Platform for Domestic Workers had been pressing for a central legislation as well as ratification of the ILO Convention 189, ‘ Decent Work for Domestic Workers ‘ passed in 2011.
Last year in December, our colony saw an initiative suggesting a fair increase, from 1st Jan on the existing wages (which naturally differ from one household to the other)! The response was by no means very encouraging!
Isn’t it time that we all work for a relationship defined by fairness and empathy? The Western world shows where we are finally headed almost total absence of domestic help!
Will we change before we have to?
