Domestic workers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 03 2015:
Urging the Government to pass a legislation and ratify the ILO Convention C 189 on 'Decent Work for Domestic Workers', the National Domestic Workers Movement Manipur (NDWMM) has launched a signature campaign today.
The campaign was supported by Labour and Employment I Hemochandra, Imphal West Deputy Labour Commissioner E Tomba, senior staff of the department, ILO research consultants from Delhi, NGOs and students.
As a part of the campaign, a discussion programme on harassment, exploitation and underpayment of domestic workers was held today at the conference hall of Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong.
Speaking at the discussion programme, E Tomba said that it may take time for the State Government to enact a legislation yet domestic workers may avail benefits provided by Rashtriya Swasthya Bima (RSB) programme.
A welfare policy for domestic workers of the State has been chalked out and a proposal would be submitted to the authority concerned soon, Tomba said.
Domestic workers should take full advantage of the Right to Education Act 2009 for formal education of their children between 6 and 14 years.
It is not yet clear how many domestic workers are there in the State but they must insist on having written deals rather taking up any domestic work on mere verbal assurance, Tomba advised.
It would be much better if domestic workers seek jobs through registered placement agencies, he added.
Manipur Domestic Workers Association co-ordinator Sr Ahnes Khala claimed that there are more than 1500 registered domestic workers in the State.
Khala stressed on the need to register all domestic workers so that they can enjoy all available social security measures.
Khala also urged the Central and State Governments to ratify the ILO Convention 189 C .