‘Legally protect domestic workers’

Trade union leaders and civil society members yesterday demanded an end to the torture of house helps and to legally protect them in the country.

Besides, they also demanded compensation for domestic workers who faced violence, their proper treatment and exemplary punishment of the culprits.

They made demands during a human chain in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club, organised by Domestic Worker's Rights Network (DWRN), said a press release.

The participants said rights violation of domestic workers has increased alarmingly in the country in recent years. Recently, two domestic workers faced violence in Dhaka and Cumilla.

Perpetrators feel encouraged to commit such violence time and again because of a culture of impunity in the country.

They further said such incidents took place one after another as the country's "Domestic Workers' Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015," hasn't been implemented properly.

Besides, perpetrators feel encouraged to commit such violence time and again because of a culture of impunity in the country, they added.

DWRN acting coordinator Abul Hossain presided over the programme. Among others, Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Amirul Haque Amin; Executive President of Jatiya Sramik Jote Abdul Wahed; and acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Mukto Sramik Federation Shahidullah Badal were present.