398 domestic helps killed by employers in 10 years
The domestic helps in Bangladesh are still deprived of basic needs and become victims of torture by their employers, as they are not protected by the labour act, 2006, speakers at a seminar said yesterday.
After monitoring eight national daily newspapers from 2001-2010, it was found that at least 398 domestic helps were killed by their employers while at least 299 others suffered injuries and 77 were raped, said the speakers.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and Global Network-Asia jointly organised the two-day long seminar titled “Domestic Workers Rights and Present Status: Role of Trade Unions and Human Rights Organisations” at their auditorium in the city.
Speaking at the seminar trade union leaders, human rights workers and stakeholders urged the government to implement the Domestic Worker Protection and Welfare Policy-2011 to prevent tortures against the domestic helps.
They demanded the government to recognise the domestic help as 'worker' through the policy and fix their salary and other privileges as per the standard of international labour acts.
Speakers opined that the domestic helps couldn't enjoy their rights, as they don't have trade union to raise voice.
Nazrul Islam Khan, secretary general of BILS, stressed the need for creating awareness among the employees and employers to ensure security and rights of the domestic helps. To this end, he said, the government, non-government and trade unions need to work together.
Among others, regional coordinator of Global Network-Asia Rey Rasing, joint general secretary of BILS Zafrul Hasan, assistant executive director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed spoke at the seminar.
Comments