Members of All Nagaland Domestic Workers Union and National Domestic Workers Movement-Nagaland region during the discussion on issues regarding domestic workers in Nagaland at ASSISI Centre, Dimapur, June 13. (Morung Photo)
Discussion on issues regarding domestic workers held in Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 13
Providing fair minimum wage, including domestic workers in the schedule of employment and respecting their work by declaring employer’s home as work place were among the key demands highlighted during a discussion round on issues regarding domestic workers in Nagaland.
The meeting was organised by the National Domestic Workers Movement-Nagaland region in collaboration with ASSISI Centre for Integrated Development (ACID) and the All Nagaland Domestic Workers Union held at ASSISI Centre, Dimapur on June 13. This was in lead up to International Domestic Workers day scheduled to be held on June 16.
At the outset, Priya Shyam, an advocate for domestic workers rights stated that there is a clear distinction between home maker and domestic worker. “A home maker is the person residing in her own house; they could be a mother, daughter or grandmother whereas a domestic worker is a hired hand who works at other people’s homes for money,” she said. Poverty and lack of other employment opportunities mostly drive them toward this work. Further adding that so many sacrifices have to be made by them in terms of personal family obligations yet society fails to give proper dignity and respect for the work they do.
Domestic workers are entitled to receive decent wages, she viewed and without which many households would not be able to function properly. “They are not asking us to give them our patronage or last name nor to adopt them but to give them their due wages.”
At the same time, the state government should take steps to include them in the schedule employment list of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, she noted. This would ensure that their livelihoods are not affected under unforeseen circumstances.
Several members of the All Nagaland Domestic Workers union also shared their grievances in regard to lack of compensation for unforeseen accidents during their working period and stagnant wages among others. As most of them had families and children of their own, they mentioned that the increasing prices of commodities severely affect them since their wages do not increase. Most of the domestic workers live on the mercy of the employer.
Sr Pramila, Director of ACID meanwhile questioned the state government for the lacklustre response in implementing the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act and thereby guaranteeing the rights of domestic workers. “Since 2018 we have been demanding the government but the response have been very slow and poor,” she said.
Furthermore she called upon all the domestic workers in the state to register with the National Domestic Workers Movement-Nagaland region.
It was also made known that on June 16, ACID would be organizing International Domestic Workers Day at its centre and the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur was scheduled to attend the programme.
