Domestic workers demand dignity at work

Hundreds of domestic workers gathered at towns like Suryapet, Nalgonda, Warangal, Kurnool, Pattancheru and Sanga Reddy under the banner of Domestic Workers Forum India (DWFI) and Gruhakarmikula Union (Domestic Workers Union) to celebrate International Domestic Workers’ Day on Tuesday. Many public meetings, rallies, round tables and other programmes were held.

Addressing a gathering in Hyderabad, freelance journalist and filmmaker K Sajaya called on domestic workers to begin a movement against the negative portrayal of domestic workers in mainstream cinema. Navdeep, an LGBT rights activist, insisted that domestic workers should find dignity in the work they do and demand that others show that respect to their work.

Speaking of the mushrooming placement agencies who recruit domestic workers from remote villages, she insisted domestic workers to put up a united fight against exploitation. Sandhya of the Progressive Organisation of Women (POW) called on domestic workers to be united and strong so that their just demands can be secured.

Varghese Theckanath, the founder convener of Domestic Workers Forum India, who also initiated unionisation of domestic workers in 15 towns in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, presided. He spelt out the demands of domestic workers calling for the implementation of minimum wages and the constitution of Domestic Workers Welfare Board in every state.

“Despite having the largest number of domestic workers in the world, India has not yet ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 to protect domestic workers,” Varghese lamented. Human Rights Forum President Jeevan Kumar, IFTU Secretary SL Padma, Domestic Workers Union State President Rajamma and others spoke.