CHENNAI: “I was pregnant in 2010 and I had to continue working for 6 months, but then it became too much to handle. When I asked my employers for leave, they told me either to leave permanently or take two days off for the delivery,” reminisced a teary eyed Raji* who has been working as a domestic worker for the last 25 years. “I used to work in two houses for 16 hours a day. When I was struggling to bend and clean the floors and do other chores, my employer used to taunt me and asked me to look for another job. I used to stay quiet and do my duties. Luckily my son was born without any trouble.”
Domestic workers in Tamil Nadu have been demanding legal rights for 20 years. In its 2011 convention for domestic workers, the International Labour Organisation specified a set of mandatory rules that must be enforced while employing a domestic worker. These rules, include providing minimum wages, paid annual and weekly leaves, and provision of proper food and accommodation, if necessary.
Twenty countries have ratified the Convention 189, but India still has not.
“I don’t think they intend to either,” said Sister Josephine Valarmathi from National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM), an NGO which works for their welfare during a rally held by the workers on Wednesday at Valluvarkottam. “Most employers think of it as a menial job, even though they can’t do away with them. The kind of treatment meted out to many these women is inhuman, but as always their pleas go unheard.”
Activists present at the protest also pointed out how caste plays a major and unavoidable role. “Most people who work as domestic labourers belong to the lower caste. They are often looked upon as dirty and suitable for such jobs. While they get all the work done from them, neither are they paid or treated adequately. It is a never ending struggle,” said R Geetha, National Coordinator for Construction Workers Union.
Speaking of dirty, A Sreedevi, who’s been working in a house for 10 years is not allowed to use their washrooms. She suffered a urinary infection. “There is one common toilet at the backyard, which I clean. But one day, I had to use their toilet. The moment I stepped out, my employer yelled at me and threatened to fire me. I got nervous and began crying. I kept asking for forgiveness. Now, I don’t even drink water while working.”
The activists and workers have put forth a few demands. Firstly, the Centre forms a comprehensive national legislation for domestic workers. Two, the Convention 189 is ratified and UN Convention 1990 on migrant workers. Lastly, that they fix minimum wages for these workers.
(*names have been changed)