Latest news with #InternationalDomesticWorkersDay
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Domestic workers urge Union government to enact law for fair wages, social security
In the 25 years that R. Rajeshwari has been a domestic worker, only in the last 10 years did she come to know about her right to a weekly holiday and bonus. 'We think domestic work is not important. Back in the village, people don't value workers who clean the house or the bathroom. But now, we understand the dignity and social security in the work,' she said at an event here on Monday. On the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (TNDWWT) urged the Union government to enact a legislation ensuring decent work, fair wages, social security and legal rights to domestic workers. 'Domestic work helped me to educate my daughter only in a matriculation school. Its vital that we receive better wages and that people recognise our work as important,' said Rajeshwari. Better awareness needed Speaking at an event organised on the occasion, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister P. Geetha Jeevan said, 'Even with the government's support, there is a need for better societal awareness. A lot of improvements for women have come about through law. However, many problems persist due to constraints faced within the family set up.' Further, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State government to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, revise their existing minimum wage to ₹100 per hour and establish regulations and monitoring mechanisms for domestic worker recruitment by agencies to prevent exploitation, among other demands. Member of Parliament Sasikanth Senthil, Member of Legislative Assembly of T. Nagar J. Karunanidhi, District Judge and Deputy Secretary District Legal Services Authority S. Vengadalakshmi, chief functionary TNDWWT Josephine Amala Valarmathi and members of the TNDWWT also spoke at the event.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
A comprehensive legislation for 3 crore domestic workers in India demanded by NPDW
On the occasion of International Domestic Workers Day observed on Monday (June 16) the National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW) has demanded that the Central government enact a comprehensive legislation for domestic workers. An estimated number of about 30 million people are engaged in domestic work in the country, who form a critical part of the workforce in the informal sector. Around 80% of these workers are women drawn from the most vulnerable social and economic groups, as per a press release issued on Saturday (June 14). Varghese Theckanath, member of NPDW national core team and Sister Lissy Joseph, Telangana convenor and others said that India has not adopted a legislation to protect the rights or welfare of domestic workers. Citing a Supreme Court judgement dated January 29, 2025 which directed the Ministry of Labour and Employment in tandem with three other Ministries to jointly constitute a committee comprising subject experts to consider the desirability of recommending a legal framework for the benefit, protection, and regulation of the rights of domestic workers. 'It will be appreciated if the Committee submits a report within a period of six months, whereupon the Government of India may consider the necessity of introducing a legal framework which may effectively address the cause and concern of domestic workers,' as per the judgement. NPDW members said that despite the directive, no substantial steps were taken by the Central Government to initiate the legislative process. Protest in Hyderabad Domestic workers from four districts convened at the Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad on Monday (June 16) to voice their concerns and press for a mechanism to resolve them. Sister Lissy said that women raised issues like salaries withheld or withdrawn by contractors, unfair wages, atrocities faced, a lack of labour rights and social protection like health insurance. 'If the Telangana government forms a welfare board, the domestic workers can lodge their grievances,' said Sister Lissy. There are over 11 lakh domestic workers in the State.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Call to protect the rights of domestic workers
The International Domestic Workers Day was organised at Kotha Jalaripeta here on Monday (June 16). I. Krishna Kumari, community trainer, Action Aid Karnataka Projects, termed domestic workers 'leaders of cities'. J.V. Ratnam, founder-secretary of the NGO Green Climate Team, said the day was meant to recognise and honour the hard work and service of domestic workers and to honour their rights. It was unfortunate that domestic workers, mostly women and migrant workers who play a vital role in society, do not get due recognition and respect for their work. On this day, the focus should be on protecting the rights of domestic workers, improving their conditions and working towards equality. The participants spoke on the need to organise awareness programmes and discuss the rights of domestic workers. Over a hundred domestic workers participated in the meeting.
HKFP
a day ago
- Business
- HKFP
Int'l Domestic Workers Day: Hong Kong urged to toughen loan regulations to combat ‘excessive borrowing'
A group of NGOs and a pro-establishment lawmaker have urged the government to impose limits on unsecured personal loans to combat 'excessive borrowing' among migrant domestic workers and teenagers in Hong Kong. Chrystie Lam, president of the local NGO Coalition of Global Home Service Sustainable Development, said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon that the group had noticed more and more foreign domestic workers were involved in 'excessive borrowing,' Commercial Radio reported. Lam suggested that the government should strengthen regulations governing unsecured personal loans provided by licensed money lenders, with the maximum repayment capped at 30 per cent of a foreign worker's monthly salary. Lam also recommended that the repayment period should be similar to the remaining duration of the foreign worker's contract. And lenders should not grant the loan if there are fewer than than six months left on the contract, Lam added. Edward Leung – a lawmaker and a member of the pro-Beijing party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) – and three local NGOs hosted a press conference on Sunday, the eve of International Domestic Workers Day. Leung said that, apart from domestic workers, teenagers in Hong Kong also suffered from 'excessive borrowing' as more and more online platforms target adolescents, according to a statement he issued. Public consultation to start in June Christopher Hui, the secretary for financial services and the treasury, announced last November that the government was planning to impose limits on loans that can be taken out at licensed money lenders. Hui said at the time that the government was working on a series of measures to combat 'excessive borrowing,' with a public consultation set to take place in the first half of 2025. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said in response to a lawmaker's question in May that the public consultation will commence in June. However, authorities are yet to announce the start date for the public consultation. According to the Companies Registry, a total of 214 complaints were received about money lenders in 2024. The figure marks a significant increase compared to that of 2023, which saw 109 complaints throughout the year. HKFP reported last July that many domestic workers also fall victim to unlicensed online lenders. Workers said that extortionate interest rates and campaigns of harassment from lenders left them terrified. Some workers told HKFP that they had to borrow money because they had been overcharged with recruitment fees before they arrived to Hong Kong, and they suffered financial pressure usually as the main – or even sole – family breadwinners.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Rights groups want a mandatory day off for foreign domestic workers
KUALA LUMPUR: Legal gaps in protecting foreign domestic workers in Malaysia leave them vulnerable to potential abuse by employers, say migrant worker rights groups. They are urging the government to recognise the role played by over 100,000 domestic workers in Malaysia by implementing several proposals, including a mandatory 24-hour off-day each week. The groups said in a statement on Sunday (June 15) that the weekly day off is a right of foreign domestic workers that is not always extended. The statement was signed by the Association of Nationalist Overseas Filipino Workers (AMMPO), Indonesian Domestic Workers Association (Pertimig), Our Journey (Malaysia), and the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF). According to a survey by IDWF, Pertimig and AMMPO, almost all migrant domestic workers surveyed in Malaysia, or 95% out of 108 total respondents, were deprived of weekly days off. The survey also found that 15% of the workers surveyed experienced physical violence, threats, or verbal abuse, or a combination thereof, from employers when they requested a day off. On a related matter, Datuk Seri M. Ramachelvam of the Bar Council said that despite several legal reforms, foreign domestic workers were still deprived of some basic rights. Speaking at the International Domestic Workers Day celebrations here on Sunday, he said this group of workers was not covered by changes to the Employment Act 1955 that came into force in 2023, such as fewer weekly working hours and increased maternity leave. The Bar Council's migrants, refugees and immigration affairs committee co-chairman said there should be a separate law enacted specifically for foreign domestic workers to safeguard their rights. 'Domestic worker legislation is imperative. That's something that the government needs to look into seriously. 'The other area that the government needs to look at is the work conditions, to ensure that these are humane, comply with international standards and norms, and that there is no exploitation,' he added. Ramachelvam also urged the Human Resources Ministry to introduce standardised job contracts and regulations covering foreign domestic workers. 'The government can issue regulations on domestic workers, which is within the powers of the minister, without going to Parliament,' he added.
