Multi-dimensional approach stressed for domestic workers’ protection

LAHORE: Domestic workers formed the backbone of countless households in Pakistan, handling essential tasks, childcare, and elderly care. Despite their significant contribution, many of these workers face abusive treatment, an issue that remained largely unaddressed and underreported. A multi-dimensional approach is necessary to combat the abusive treatment of domestic workers.

Domestic Workers Union (DWU) Punjab President Munazza Ishaq said this in a press statement on Friday. She said that stories of violence, exploitation, and neglect occur too often, highlighting a severe human rights concern that required urgent attention.

Munazza said that government has taken some steps to address this issue. The Punjab Domestic Workers Act of 2019 was a landmark piece of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of domestic workers. The law includes provisions for minimum wages, working hours, and access to social security. However, its implementation has been inactive, and awareness about these rights remains minimal among both employers and workers.

DWU Deputy General Secretary Samina Farooq shared that domestic workers in Pakistan, many of whom are women and children, often work in unregulated environments where they are vulnerable to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. They are frequently denied basic labour rights in some extreme cases, they are subjected to inhumane treatment, with little to no recourse for justice.

She recalled that distressing example is the case of Tayyaba, a young domestic worker who made headlines in 2016 after her employers brutally tortured her. Her story shed light on the systemic abuse faced by domestic workers. Pakistan United Workers Federation (PUWF) Director Programmes (Labour Research & Development Institute) Zauq Akhtar highlighted that NGOs and civil society groups have been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of domestic workers in Pakistan. He said that organisations like the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and PUWF have raised awareness about the plight of domestic workers through campaigns, research, and advocacy. They have also provided legal aid and support to victims of abuse, helping them seek justice.