Aizawl, jan 18 : Domestic workers, a society’s unorganized working sector who are subject to long working hours, poor salary, physical and verbal abuse are finally getting their voices heard. An organization of domestic workers, ‘Domestic Workers Movement, Nagaland’ region, has been officially launched by the government of Nagaland on January 17.
According to a non-governmental organization report (random), 25% of domestic workers in Dimapur are below the age of 14 while 10% to 15% of women domestic workers are widows or destitute/abandoned. Also, most of them work as either full or part time migrant workers, totally uprooted from their own culture, accustomed food, tradition and language. Not to speak of the conditions they work under, findings suggest that most domestic workers are not allowed to meet with their peers and mostly confined to their employers’ home and tasks.
Many are also verbally and physically abused, to the extent of being sexually-abused. They are also denied just and human wages and are highly exploited while their services have no security – they could be terminated without any notice.
According to a non-governmental organization report (random), 25% of domestic workers in Dimapur are below the age of 14 while 10% to 15% of women domestic workers are widows or destitute/abandoned. Also, most of them work as either full or part time migrant workers, totally uprooted from their own culture, accustomed food, tradition and language. Not to speak of the conditions they work under, findings suggest that most domestic workers are not allowed to meet with their peers and mostly confined to their employers’ home and tasks.
Many are also verbally and physically abused, to the extent of being sexually-abused. They are also denied just and human wages and are highly exploited while their services have no security – they could be terminated without any notice.
25% workers are children, 15% widows
Low wage, poverty and segregation from legal issues are the major issues faced by these workers, it is found. According to reports, the current daily minimum wages for laborers in Nagaland is rupees 80 for the unskilled and rupees 100 for the skilled respectively. However, given the fact that domestic workers’ are not categorized, they are denied even basic minimum wages. In legal matters also, the definition of worker does not include domestic workers, and naturally they do not enjoy any benefit.
In most states, domestic work is excluded from national legislations because it is considered ‘informal’ work that takes place in the private sphere of household and family. This exposes them to the risk of being abused and exploited. Dimapur has 99% domestic workers belonging to different communities from different parts of the state.
They are forced to work due to poverty and helplessness. The newly launched Domestic Workers Movement, Nagaland region seeks to create a society where domestic workers are treated as persons with dignity, their rights upheld, their contribution towards the economy and development recognized and their voices heard. With a larger percentage of workers being women and children, the movement will also work to build a society where child domestic work is abolished and all children enjoy the right to education and full childhood.
Low wage, poverty and segregation from legal issues are the major issues faced by these workers, it is found. According to reports, the current daily minimum wages for laborers in Nagaland is rupees 80 for the unskilled and rupees 100 for the skilled respectively. However, given the fact that domestic workers’ are not categorized, they are denied even basic minimum wages. In legal matters also, the definition of worker does not include domestic workers, and naturally they do not enjoy any benefit.
In most states, domestic work is excluded from national legislations because it is considered ‘informal’ work that takes place in the private sphere of household and family. This exposes them to the risk of being abused and exploited. Dimapur has 99% domestic workers belonging to different communities from different parts of the state.
They are forced to work due to poverty and helplessness. The newly launched Domestic Workers Movement, Nagaland region seeks to create a society where domestic workers are treated as persons with dignity, their rights upheld, their contribution towards the economy and development recognized and their voices heard. With a larger percentage of workers being women and children, the movement will also work to build a society where child domestic work is abolished and all children enjoy the right to education and full childhood.