Domestic workers demand comprehensive law for their rights

They urged the government to bring the domestic workers under the purview of the labor laws.

(Photo: radicalnotes.com)

New Delhi:  More than two thousand domestic workers from 14 states demonstrated in New Delhi yesterday, demanding a law to protect their rights and provide them social security.

The workers staged a rally and dharna under the banner of National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW).

They also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, urging the government to bring the domestic workers under the purview of the labor laws through a comprehensive legislation and setting up of a tripartite board to implement and monitor the provisions.

“The plight of domestic workers in this country is miserable. I am ashamed about the lack of minimum wages, healthcare facilities and security to the domestic workers,” said D. Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India addressing the dharna.

Among other eminent people who addressed the dharna expressing solidarity with the domestic workers included Basudev Bhatacharya – CPM member of Parliament, Ali Akbar Ansari of the Janata Dal United, Sanjay Paswan - a former minister in the NDA government, Mohini Giri - former chairperson of the National Commission for Women,
Vijayalakshmi Reddy from AITUC and Annie Raja of NFIW.

NPDW is the umbrella forum of 17 unions of domestic workers and action groups scattered across the country.

Source: press release