To give domestic helps a better life

Rahela Begum has been struggling to sustain herself and her four children with the earning she makes as a domestic help in the capital, since her husband abandoned her years ago. And on top of that is the everyday abuse and ill treatment of employers that add to never-ending episodes of painful experiences.

If the government and society extend support to women like her, as Rahela put it, “We will have a better life”.

She spoke of her family and work life when given the floor at a national dialogue on rights of women domestic workers, organised by Oxfam yesterday. 

At the programme at the Cirdap auditorium in the capital, Oxfam laid out a project titled, “Securing Rights of Women Domestic Workers in Bangladesh”. The project will strive to create a platform for workers to speak up for their rights, due recognition of their work and contribution to economy over the next four and a half years.

Lawmaker Israfil Alam, member of the parliamentary standing committee for the labour and employment ministry, attended the event as chief guest.

Women domestic workers will also be provided training for skill development, and made aware of legal rights, under the project funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.

About two million people work as domestic workers across the country, according to a brief report on the project provided by Oxfam. An increasing number of people are getting into the informal sector, with 78 percent of them females. International Labour Organization put the figure of child domestic workers in the country at 4.21 lakh.

A comprehensive approach to address the issues facing workers in the informal sector is thought to bring about qualitative changes in their lives, speakers suggested at the event.

The project will empower and organise domestic workers to claim and defend their rights, and engage stakeholders to recognise domestic work as formal profession at the estimated cost of over $11 million.

Oxfam will work with six local partners including Nari Maitree, Campaign for Popular Education, Underprivileged Children’s Education Programmes and Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) to reach the goal. 

Ahead of embarking on the work, the non-government organisation has taken up a baseline survey.

Some of the findings presented yesterday point to areas to be emphasised upon for improving lives of domestic workers and their work experiences. For example, permanent house help (those who live in employers’ residences) enjoy less freedom and get less pay than non-residential ones.

Ninety-six percent employers showed interest in hiring trained women domestic workers and 77 percent were interested in sending their house helps for training if it is free of charge.

Workers said they needed a weekly holiday and higher pay.