International Domestic Workers Day : Letter to PM

16th June, 2021

Letter to Prime Minister of India for Domestic Workers Issues on the eve of 16th June International Domestic Workers Day

Prime Minister’s Office
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011

To
Shri Narendra Modi
The Honourable Prime Minister, India

On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the ILO Convention 189, Decent Work for Domestic Workers, we again appeal to you to pay heed to the protection of vulnerable domestic workers.

Till date there is no exact data on the numbers of domestic workers in the country, but conservative estimates say there are over 30 million and the numbers are swelling as other work opportunities for poor informal workers are diminished. Most domestic workers are women and also single mothers, so this is the only work that provides them with a livelihood. Yet, they have neither recognition nor protection as workers.

During this Covid 19 pandemic which is over 15 months now, they have suffered badly as employers kept them at a distance for fear of the virus. The majority of them lost wages. Those that did permit them to work, demanded more work and paid less while they had to spend more money to get to work as there was no public transport for several weeks. Living in poor habitation areas, they have had to continue to pay rents and repay loans and have been harassed for not doing so. Many in their families have been ill and, in many places, they have had to pay for care which has also been beyond their means. Many have lost relatives and family members. There has been no compensation. Some have received some ration, but many have not and there are so many other needs where cash is required. Children have also lost out on education as not all have smart phones.

The changes in labour laws have not brought any solace to the rights of domestic workers. They are also specifically excluded from the Code on Health and safety. Although there are directions that all informal workers be registered in the Welfare Boards for the Unorganised Sector, no proactive steps are made to register domestic workers. Moreover, there are little or no funds to provide social security particularly health and housing benefits.

Considering the specific conditions of this sector, where workers work in private homes in a dispersed and irregular manner, the National Platform for Domestic Workers makes the following demands:

1. Ratify Convention 189
2. Enact Comprehensive Legislation for Domestic Workers in the light of which India will also be able to Ratify Convention 189 and demonstrate to the South Asian Countries, that India cares for this vulnerable section of workers.
3. In the interim, register all domestic workers in the Labour Department
4. Provide the cash compensation of Rs.7500/- for the number of days of work lost as per the Disaster Management Act
5. Extend the 100 days of work under the MGNREGA to the urban areas
6. As domestic workers are a population at risk prioritize the COVID vaccination on a priority basis so that they may continue to work without fear and harassment.

Yours sincerely
Members of
National Platform for Domestic Workers