Essay On Domestic Workers

WORKING CONDITIONS

All conditions of work for all domestic workers are arbitrary and based on very individual, personalized relationships. Woven into these relationships are personal stories, woman to woman dealings and also factors of loyalty, gratitude, helplessness. They can be broadly classified as part timers, full timers, residential or live in domestic workers. This also includes those working in defense and government quarters. They can also be classified based on the tasks that they do such as those who do only cleaning works, only cooking, childcare or care of the elderly. Very often, these tasks or the division of labour has a caste basis. In most cases, the tasks are not clearly defined by the employer, leading to exploitation. For example, Uma, a domestic worker, says “Apart from the household work, employers make us do extra tasks

But the reality is that this guarantee and fight of equality have not reached many lower sections of society. The case of the domestic workers is evidence to the fact that despite the guaranteed constitutional rights their struggle for equality and survival continues. It is disheartening to note that domestic workers as a part of unorganized work force remain the most exploited ones even after six decades of independence. There is no legislative framework at all in India. The whole outlook on domestic workers is so' feudal here. There are 90 million domestic workers in India, and it's sad there are no rules for them. Across Asia, 'domestic work' (e.g. work carried out in the homes of others) is a common occupation. Yet domestic work is usually not recognized in many societies as I employment' and labour laws do often not protect the workers. Domestic work is not recognized as labour and hence they have no rights such as fixed working hours, weekly offs, medical benefits or paid leave. They are not included in any labour law or