'305 child domestic workers died from torture in 8 years'

Md Israfil Alam speaks at a seminar on 'Child domestic workers: Law and code of conduct' at the Biam auditorium in the city yesterday. On his right is Shaheen Anam and on his left are Dr Ahmedullah Mia and Husni Ara Quashem.Photo: STARStaff Correspondent

At least 305 child domestic workers have died from torture, 235 more have been severely injured and 77 others fell victim to rape in the last eight years since 2001.

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, convener of the Network to Establish Domestic Workers' Rights, revealed this at a seminar on 'Child domestic workers: Law and code of conduct'.

The child workers face various forms of domestic violence in the absence of a strong monitoring system and policies, he said while presenting the keynote paper.

He also recommended refraining from engaging children in hazardous work, fixing work list, working hour and a weekly day-off for them, paying regular monthly salary on a fixed rate and giving a one-month notice period before dismissal of workers.

Shoishab Bangladesh with the support of Manusher Jonno Foundation organised the seminar at Biam Auditorium in the city, with Dr Ahmedullah Mia, a member of Shoishab Bangladesh, in the chair.

Other speakers also called for issuing identity cards for domestic workers, fixing a minimum wage and not employing under-14 children as a fulltime worker.

Speaking as the chief guest, Md Israfil Alam, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on labour and employment ministry, said the government would review the labour law to ensure child workers' rights.

Poverty mainly forces the children to work as a domestic help, he said.

He also said many street children become drug peddler, drug addicts, muggers and sex workers, which should be stopped through proper intervention from the state, society, family and non-government organisations.

Speaking as the special guest, Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, called on the employers to ensure the rights of domestic workers such as basic education, access to healthcare and recreational facilities, and proper wages.

As the government is providing education for all, child workers should also be brought under the scheme, she added.

A monitoring cell should be set up to curb domestic violence against the domestic workers, she added.

She also called for changing attitude towards the domestic workers.

Joint Director of the Labour Directorate Kabir Ahmed Choudhury, Executive Director of Shoishab Bangladesh Husni Ara Quashem, Advocate Rashida Hossain of BNWLA and Shahin Akhter Doly of Nari Moitree also spoke at the seminar.