Workshop on Welfare of Domestic Workers begins
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 30 2012:
A two-day State level workshop on 'Domestic Workers Welfare, Social Security Act and suggested Measures' organised by Manipur women Co-ordinating Council (MWCOC) under the sponsorship of National Commission for women commenced from today at Manipur Press Club.
As chief guest of the workshop, Keishamthong AC MLA L Ibomcha informed the participants that inspite of the Parliament passing the Domestic Workers Welfare and Social Security Act the legislation is being diluted due to unconventional implementation thus depriving the citizens of their rights.
Observing that effective implementation of various legislations on domestic workers would not only ensure protection of their rights but would also enable NGOs working in the field to avail funds from the Central Government, MLA Ibomcha, who was also former Secretary (Law) said young boys engaged as manual labourers in unfriendly working conditions at hotels is a fallout of non implementation of such Acts.
He further suggested that effective implementation of relevant legislations on welfare of the domestic workers would provide more teeth to the Labour Department for preventing exploitation of these working class.
Former Legal Advisor of Manipur State Commission for women ch Narendra Singh in his address conceded that during random checking on the status of domestic workers some house-owners claimed such under-aged workers to be either relatives or adopted members of the family helping them in household chores.
He also said that in some cases boys and girls of Manipur taken to other States on the pretext of providing them jobs were actually utilised as domestic workers or traded off for engagement in unconventional activities.
Expressing that only through effective implementation of Domestic Workers Welfare and Social Security Act could safety and security of these exploited section of the society could be secured, Narendra cautioned that failure to understand the situation and act accordingly might lead to undesired consequences.
As resource persons of the workshop, Royal Academy of Law lecturer N Meena deliberated on 'Identifying Domestic Workers', advocate N Binodini Devi on 'The Welfare measures under Domestic Workers Welfare and Social Security Act 2010', Deputy Labour Commissioner N Tomba Singh on 'Registration of Domestic Workers and its effectiveness and MSCW Member Secretary S Meghachandra Sharma on 'Machinery under Domestic Workers Welfare and Social Security Act 2012' .
President of the host Council A Bimola Devi also spoke on the occasion.