“If I don’t go to work for one day, it will complicate my madam’s daily life.”
These workers are the ones doing a number of jobs within other people’s homes. Often on the lower pay side, especially women, domestic workers do it all and more.
Domestic Workers
Domestic workers take up many jobs within other people’s homes. Most women provide domestic services for low pay, such as sweeping and cleaning, washing clothes and dishes, shopping, cooking, children and elderly care, and looking after the disabled. Men usually have better paid jobs as in gardening, driving, and security. Domestic workers are often stretched to work multiple jobs on a part time basis and work for various employers.
Role of SEWA in Delhi
- More than 17,000 domestic workers have organized under SEWA in Delhi to gain awareness of their rights and enable them to mobilize with collective strength. Through government and employer liaison, SEWA in Delhi facilitates domestic workers towards addressing their concerns, such as ensuring decent wages, safe work conditions, and paid leave. This is often done through periodic “My Fair Home” (“Mera Pyaara Nyay Yukt Ghar”) campaigns, wherein domestic workers are provided cards detailing demands and are to be passed onto the employer. SEWA in Delhi also links domestic workers and their families with government social security schemes and SEWA’s development programs.
Highlights of work by SEWA in Delhi
SEWA Delhi is working on the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 (C-189) on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. This convention provides a comprehensive framework for protecting the rights of domestic workers and promoting decent working conditions. It recognizes domestic work as a form of work and calls for measures to ensure equal treatment and protection for domestic workers.
Sanghini: SEWA in Delhi recognized that several domestic workers struggle to find work while homeowners are on the look for good domestic help. Connecting both these parties, SEWA in Delhi formed a collective called Sangini that trains domestic workers in conducting quality work and helps them get placed under owners who commit to pay wages based on the standard rate chart.. By increasing the quality and variety of work that women can engage with, it becomes easier for women to bargain for better wages against longer hours spent on work.
Furthermore, SEWA in Delhi met with over 25 housing societies and 10 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Eastern Delhi and proposed adopting the rate chart for paying wages that were jointly prepared by SEWA in Delhi and domestic workers. Standardization of wages will ensure that domestic workers receive fair compensation for their work based on the nature of the work and the amount of time invested. This is an ongoing initiative.
Help with applying for government linked security and identification schemes such as ration card, E-Shram card, health card etc