Domestic workers yet to benefit from legislation

Lahore:A large number of domestic workers are women who do cleaning, washing, cooking and take care of children and the elderly in other people’s homes but their contribution to the economy remains unrecognised.

The Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019 says, “No extra work may be assigned to the domestic worker without free will of the domestic worker and extra remuneration.” A press statement issued on the eve of International Domestic Workers’ Day by HomeNet Pakistan acknowledging the legislation in Punjab on Domestic Workers said, “A registered domestic worker will be entitled to get prescribed wages, free medical care for himself/herself and dependents through Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) hospitals, injury benefits, disablement pension and survivor’s pension under PESSI laws, wages during leave or holidays and over time maternity benefits equivalent to six weeks wages.”