Chizokho Vero
Kohima | June 16
“We want fixation of wages under the Minimum Wages Act and payment on time to take care of our family members,” said domestic worker Usha Devi from Kohima today.
Speaking to a huge crowd, Devi, a mother of 4, asked state legislators to address the welfare of domestic workers and ensure their dignity.
She said this while sharing her experience as a domestic worker during the regional conference on ‘Decent work for domestic workers,’ held in Kohima as part of the Northeast Domestic Workers Week (June 10-16).
To ensure protection of unorganized workers in Nagaland, the Ferrando Domestic Workers’ Alliance, Centre for Development Initiatives and National Domestic Workers’ Movement- Nagaland on behalf of domestic workers, submitted a memorandum to Dr TM Lotha, Advisor to Chief Minister, Labour & Employment and Skill Development.
It sought inclusion of domestic workers in welfare schemes, proper functioning of the social welfare board, skill training for domestic workers and fixation of wages under Minimum Wages Act in Nagaland.
The memo said most domestic workers are illiterate and come from vulnerable communities, while many are migrants or are trafficked and sold. It called for a separate state sectoral law on the land of other sectoral laws, such as building and other construction workers Act 1996 to ensure dignity and rights of domestic workers in the state.
It lamented that despite Nagaland having included domestic workers under the schedule of employment and fixed minimum wages for domestic workers, the state social security boards under unorganized workers social security act 2008 has not been constituted in the state.
Dr TM Lotha stated that domestic workers are a vulnerable group and hence their rights dignity and safety should be protected without any discrimination. “There should be a cordial atmosphere in the work place and cordial relationship between the employer and the employee with a view to collectively promote decent work for domestic workers and to ultimately enhance the efficiency and economy of the family,” he said.
Dr Lotha lamented that domestic workers in India continue to struggle for visibility and recognition due to the absence of comprehensive, uniformly applicable national legislation that guarantees fair terms of employment and decent working conditions. “Unfortunately, most of us in Nagaland are unaware of these Acts. Maybe because there are no organized, duly registered domestic workers, and most often we employ family members who are dropouts from schools and we employ them in the family and allow them to go for part time schooling and studies,” he said.
Highlighting the draft policy for domestic workers the Ministry of Labour & Employment, State Labour Commissioner, L Nungshiyanger Aier said domestic workers will be included in appropriate existing labour legislations and suitable amendment will be made. He added domestic workers will have the right to register as worker with the state Labour Department, to enhance their professional skills and employment opportunity through skill development, to fair terms of employment relating to minimum wage protection, hours of work, rest period, leave, access to social security, protection from abuse, harassment and violence etc. He was hopeful that the policy would become a reality soon.
Fr. S. Charles of Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) meanwhile pointed out that in Nagaland, the issue of vulnerable children in the domestic sector is a deep concern.
“The huge supply of children particularly to work as child domestic labour in homes in cities and towns in Nagaland is a gross violation of child rights. This has to be addressed at the earliest by all stakeholders concerned,” he said.
He cautioned that ignoring the deprived children of today would plant seeds of a future that would be filled with inequality, injustice, unrest and violence. “Little acts of kindness and care to these little ones would make this world more humane and peaceful,” he said.
