Domestic Workers Fight for Recognition: Experts Call for Rights Beyond Legislation in India

The National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW) hosted a significant discussion in Delhi focusing on domestic workers' rights.

New Delhi:

During a Delhi-based discussion organized by the National Platform of Domestic Workers (NPDW), experts emphasized that legislation alone is insufficient without societal efforts to recognize domestic workers' fundamental rights.

Michiko Miyamoto, India director of the UN's International Labour Organization (ILO), listened to domestic workers' testimonies highlighting critical issues including unpaid wages, discrimination, physical and sexual harassment, and lack of workers' rights protection.

In a statement released by the workers' body, Miyamoto praised the NPDW for not only advocating for domestic workers' issues but also providing them with public visibility, as they typically remain unseen in society.

Discussion participants collectively agreed that securing rights for domestic workers requires a fundamental shift in societal attitudes, noting that while society depends heavily on their services, it simultaneously marginalizes them.

Deepangkar Guha, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, stressed the necessity for national legislation protecting domestic workers. He mentioned that numerous private members' bills have been presented to the government, which should honor its commitment to 'Convention 189' that India has signed.

Convention 189, also known as the Domestic Workers Convention of 2011, is an ILO international treaty establishing global standards for domestic workers' working conditions.

Domestic workers have been campaigning for legislation for decades, with at least 17 draft bills developed and some presented to parliament. These bills have evolved in scope over time, with the NPDW's draft being particularly comprehensive, according to experts at the discussion.

A panel representing both domestic worker employers and industrial sector employers pointed out that the government's new draft labor policy, despite being marketed as inclusive, contains no provisions for domestic workers.

ILO specialist Ravindran Pieres noted that employers' associations have committed to advancing protections for domestic workers. The Women and Child Commission chairperson concurred on the necessity for domestic worker legislation and advocated for their protection under the POSH Act.

Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, chair of the National Human Rights Commission, emphasized the need for comprehensive domestic worker legislation, while MP Senthil committed to advancing the campaign for such a law.