Domestic workers call for zero tolerance against violence and abuse

[caption id="attachment_246948" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Members of the NDWM, pictured here, commemorated International Workers Day with a call to stakeholders to initiate reforms for the workers.[/caption] Dimapur, May 2 (EMN): An organisation representing domestic workers in Nagaland has appealed for social and administrative reforms that will support, protect and defend the dignity and services of the workers. The Nagaland unit of the National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) states that the workers often face violence and discrimination based on gender, race, colour, social status, religions, creed, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, family status, age and caste. The NDWM issued a press release to the media on Thursday stating its aspirations and goals for reforms. In collaboration with the Assisi Centre for Integrated Development, the NDWM stated that it had commemorated International Workers Day for workers specially domestic workers ‘who work between the four walls, whose work is not recognised as work, who are not recognised as workers.’ The organisation organised various programmes focusing on issues of gender-based violence, workers’ rights, and women’s right, the press release stated. According to the organisation citing the WHO’s estimates, one out of three women globally has experienced some form of physical and or sexual harassment in her lifetime. Domestic workers are the most vulnerable as they are the majority of women from more deprived communities working in employers’ households, the group stated. The press release stated: “We have heard enough stories of abuses. Adelina Sao, an Indonesian migrant domestic worker, died as a result of severe torture by her employer in Malaysia. Sabina Khatun, a minor domestic worker in India, was raped by her employer’s son and family driver and found dead. The perpetrators of both cases are still walking free!” “Adelina and Sabina are just a few among many others who suffer from violence and harassment. The International Domestic Workers Federation survey on gender-based violence (GBV) among our affiliates in Asia in 2018 revealed that domestic workers face a significant risk of violence and harassment in the household where they are working, in different types and level.” The most common abuse faced by domestic workers is financial or economic abuse including underpayment and excessive agency fees especially for those who are migrants, the NDWM stated. “The other forms of abuses are physical, psychological, verbal, and sexual violence and harassments. These abuses bring devastating impact on domestic workers and their families’ life. However, very often, they are scared to report sexual harassment and abuses.” Further, the NDWM stated that domestic violence has an adverse impact on the life and work of workers. “The situation of domestic violence often leaves domestic workers with additional financial and psychological burden yet they are not provided with adequate support,” the organisation stated. “Gender-based violence faced by domestic worker sector is widely perpetuated and normalised because domestic work is unrecognised and undervalued, despite their immense contribution to the economy and social reproduction.” They are systematically discriminated and excluded from fundamental labour rights. They face multiple layers of discrimination based on various superficial factors, the NDWM stated. “Domestic workers need immediate protection against all forms of abuse, harassment and violence including Gender Based Violence. We believe that gender equality and justice, leaving no one behind from decent work, are basics of social development and sustainability.” The organisation has asked the government of India to support a number of mission objectives: • Support an ILO’s international convention, “Ending violence and harassment in the world of work,” supplemented by a recommendation at the upcoming ILO conference in June. • Ratify the ILO Convention 189, Decent Work for Domestic Workers; recognise domestic workers as workers in all laws and policies. The inclusion of domestic workers in the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act in India is an example of such inclusion, the organisation stated. • Bring domestic workers in Nagaland under the schedule of employment, thus entitling them to minimum wages. • Uphold and realise all human rights principles and conventions, and the UN Sustainability Development Goals principle number 5 on gender equality, and number 8 on decent work. • Establish laws and policies to protect victims of domestic violence. • Ensure enforcement and monitoring of related laws and policies