85pc house helps receive salaries through MFS

Mobile Financial Services are encouraging female domestic workers towards economic empowerment through savings and self-sufficiency, according to a report.

The findings of the report titled "Economic Empowerment of Domestic Workers Through Digital Financial Services- Project Shuchona" were revealed by Manusher Jonno Foundation at an event held at its office in the capital's Mirpur.

Around 698 respondents from Mohammadpur, Khilgaon, Mirpur, Kamrangirchar, and Keraniganj, including female domestic workers and women employers, participated in this study conducted by Associates for Innovative Research and Development.

The study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of Project Shuchona, a 25-month-long initiative supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which empowers domestic workers with knowledge and access to digital financial services to improve their financial autonomy.

According to the study, 84.5 percent of female domestic workers have control over their finances as they receive their salaries through MFS. The figure was 19 percent earlier.

Also, about 97 percent of domestic workers use MFS on their personal phones while 3.40 percent avail the services through common or familial phones.

MFS serves as a timely, traceable, and convenient salary payment method, read the report.

"To achieve smart Bangladesh by 2041, we need to develop smart citizens, economy, society, and governance. Thus, it is necessary to include our domestic workers in the smart financial system," said Ayesha Siddiqui, deputy director (planning and evaluation) of the Directorate of Women Affairs.

"A policy is in place to help the domestic workers, but there is no law to ensure their rights. A law needs to be in place," said Mujibul Haque, former state minister for labour and employment.

Md Moynul Haque Bhuiyan, deputy secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, called for development of an application to monitor the working hours of domestic helpers to ensure their rightful payment.

Shaheen Anam, executive director of MJF, said economic empowerment of domestic workers will help elevate their social status. This project will encourage other workers and employers to opt for MFS, creating awareness in this regard, she added.