Silence of the Vulnerable

There is more to the plight of domestic workers in Nagaland than meets the eye. With no proper documentation, economic security, written agreements, legal protection or job security, they are vulnerable to exploitation, physical and mental abuse, poor working conditions and long working hours while being underpaid. Several instances of abuse have emerged in the past, only to be forgotten after initial outrage. When protests fail to translate into policy reforms addressing grievances and ensuring strict enforcement of existing labour laws, exploiters feel emboldened. The result is not an inch moves and the plight of domestic workers remains. This is not just because of a lack of political will; citizens of the state, particularly the economically well-off families who make up a significant portion of employers, share the responsibility for the current state of affairs. The Centre for Development Initiatives (CDI), a voluntary non-governmental organisation dedicated to the service of vulnerable women and young girls, recently highlighted that even simple tasks like identifying and registering domestic workers face daunting challenges, as many employers refuse to cooperate, thus denying them certain benefits, including government welfare schemes. This issue is compounded by a lack of awareness among domestic workers, who are mostly illiterate and engage in menial work such as cleaning, cooking, childcare, elderly care, and other household duties. Moreover, defying employers may jeopardise their employment. This fear may lead to a reluctance to speak up and fight for their rights. They choose to suffer in silence.

Despite their immense contributions to the economy, their rights are largely ignored by the system. Their long-standing demands for fixing wages, enrolment of domestic workers in the schedule of employment and recognition of their work have remained unfulfilled to this day. It is time the government of Nagaland heard their cries and addressed plaguing issues like low wages, irregular payments and an unsafe working environment. There is no uniform national minimum wage policy for people working in the unorganised sector, as it is a state-subject, but more than a dozen states have such a policy in place. Nagaland should take a cue from these states and include domestic workers in the Schedule of Employment and Minimum Wages Act. To effectively address the challenges faced by this significant workforce, an overarching national policy and protective measures are essential. These should include social security benefits such as pensions, fixed working hours, minimum wages, leave entitlements, contract-based work, and medical benefits. The Centre must also approve the proposed draft National Policy on Domestic Workers. Without stringent laws, domestic workers will remain at the mercy of their employers.