Govt urged to issue social security cards to domestic workers

LAHORE: Speakers at a seminar held her Thursday demanded the Punjab government issue social security cards to domestic workers per requirement of Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019.

The seminar was organised in connection with International Domestic Workers Day 2024, by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE). A large number of women domestic workers and civil society activists joined the event.

The speakers said, ‘Women domestic workers face multiple problems, including low wages, longer working hours, violence at workplace and lack of compliance of minimum wages notification. The rampant and illegal practice of child domestic work is an ugly form of modern slavery, which needs to abolished.

A public awareness campaign regarding the domestic workers law and their rights is prerequisite as majority of workers and employers are not aware of this law.’ Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director WISE, speaking on the occasion said women domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to discrimination in respect of working conditions, terms of employment and to other human rights abuses. They are forced to face issues like long working hours, multiple forms of abuse at work, child labour, lack of minimum wage, labour inspection and law enforcement.

Talking about Domestic Workers law, she said it provides protection of domestic workers labour rights, regulating their terms of employment, working conditions of service and provision of social protection and welfare.

It has been observed that the hard labour of such workers is exploited by their owners. The barely minimum wages don’t commensurate with their work output. Their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing also lack adequate attention. Despite passage of law in the last five years none of DWs is registered with PESSI or issued social security card so far.