Call to resolve domestic workers issues

LAHORE

Representatives from the Domestic Women Workers Union have said they work more than eight hours daily but still do not get officially announced minimum wage.

They said this at a press conference on policy advocacy and implementation of domestic workers law, organised by an NGO at Lahore Press Club on Wednesday. 

Domestic worker leaders Shumaila, Sumera and Naseem said, "We want recognition and dignity." They said they were facing severe issues of harassment, discrimination, exploitation and minimum wage. They said implementation of the policy for the demostic workers was important.

"We urge Punjab government to provide us with social security Khidmat cards under it new schemes,” they said. They demanded better schooling for their children. "Our children wander streets when we are at work", said a domestic worker from Youhanabad.

A representative from the NGO said, "The term 'domestic work' means any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship." She said they were among the most exploited group of workers today. 

She said there were approximately 8.5 million domestic workers in Pakistan, most of them women. She they remained unregulated and they were not covered by labour law.

The NGO's representive Maria Kokab said that Punjab government had approved the domestic workers policy for the province but the implementation mechanism was yet to be finalised and implemented in full spirit.