A brave journey of a young domestic worker

Born in a family of poor rural area with no schooling, Hania began life as a domestic worker in Rawalpindi when she was just 10 years old. Her father died when she was just eight, so she and her four sisters and four brothers were helped by her mother’s income, who herself was a domestic worker.

“I was the only child in my family who was sent to school, but being incapable of balancing work and school, ultimately I had to pick work and dropped out of school numerous times. My payment was spent on the whole family. My payment also included used clothes and food,” says Hania.

She recalled: “It was my first job as a domestic worker. I was responsible for cleaning the house, caring for the children, taking the kids to school, preparing meals and running errands. To make matters worse I woke up early in the morning and prepared the kids’ clothes, food and tea before taking them to school. When I returned to the house I did dusting, washed clothes, went to the market, returned to the house and prepared lunch. Then I went to the school to collect the children, it was a lot of work. I would wake up for work at 5.30 and work until I went to bed at 11. I did not even get time to rest.”

“One of my first employers restricted much of what I could do. She would force me to ask permission for even the simplest of activities, including using the bathroom, and would force as well to redo tasks after having spent hours on it, such as cleaning the house or washing dishes after the meals,” she remembers.

“I enjoyed my time as a domestic worker as well, but endured several hardships. Despite the joys I found in my work, I was not treated with respect and dignity by our so-called bratheri as they thought that just because I cleaned houses, I was unworthy, but I damn cared about them.”

“It was my dream that I would send my sisters and brothers to school so I decided to find some new job. I was lucky that when I was eighteen I got a job in a super store. My new job gave me respect like other workers. As my income increased I sent my two brothers to school and the other two to learn some skill. But my mother had another idea about younger sisters. When they grew old my mother sent them to different homes for domestic work to support the family budget,” Hania said.

“At times, I felt as if I will never stop working. But my luck came to my help and as working environment was quite supportive at the super store, I was given promotion. On hearing the news, my mother immediately sent me into marriage wedlock, but my marriage soon ended, as my husband wanted me to migrate to his city. Suddenly, I found myself unable to support my sick mother, brothers and sisters on my own.”

Hania says: “I never depended on my brothers for support, who are married now. I still contribute financially to them. I supported my sisters’ marriages. To this date, I’m working. I take pride in my work and value the fruits of my efforts. My job helps me pay my rent, feed and clothe my family members i.e. my mother and two younger brothers, who live with me now.”