1. HIND MAZDOOR SABHA

2. DOMESTIC WORKERS IN INDIA

3. Domestic Workers in India Introduction – Most domestic workers are from the marginalized sections of society and a large number of them are migrant workers. Workers range from full-time to part-time workers, skilled and unskilled workers. – 90 % of Domestic workers are women.

4. Types of domestic workers The domestic workers can be: a)Part-time worker i.e. worker who works for one or more employers for a specified number of hours per day or performs specific tasks for each of the multiple employers every day. b)Full‐time worker i.e. worker who works for a single employer every day for a specified number of hours (normal full day work) and who returns back to her/his home every day after work. c)Live-in worker i.e. worker who works full time for a single employer and also stays on the premises of the employer or in a dwelling provided by the employer (which is close or next to the house of the employer) and does not return back to her/his home every day after work.”

5. Size and Significance Size and Significance – While no reliable statistics determine the number of workers in the sector, the data analysis of the NSSO (61st Round, 2004-5) reveals an approximate figure of approximately 4.2 million domestic workers in the country. The contribution of the workers in this sector is rarely computed within the economy.

6. Working Conditions Working Conditions – No formal contracts ensuring an employer-employee relationship – Lack of organisation – Poor bargaining power – No legislative protection – Inadequate welfare measures – No provision for weekly holidays – No maternity leave and health benefits This lack of regulation has led to countless violations of domestic workers’ rights, including working hours ranging between 8 and 18 hours and the absence of any job security. Domestic workers invariably represent the more marginalized communities in society. Prejudice and bias related to social status is reflected very strongly at the workplace for many domestic workers. Female domestic workers, especially those who live in their employer’s home, are vulnerable to sexual abuse.

7. Wages Wages – Wages for the domestic workers are determined by factors such as tasks performed, hours of work, their social status, skills (or the lack of it), the need for flexibility and other labour market conditions. – There are on-going debates over the norms for setting wages. These debates include several tricky issues such as whether the wage ought to be time rated or piece rated, in kind, hourly or weekly, part-time or full time; based on house size or persons per household, over time; adjusted for boarding, include medical care and other necessities and multiplicity of employers. – As per Indian Govt. Minimum wages act – 270/223/180 INR per day

8. Organisation and Voice  Organising domestic workers has been a huge challenge as the work place is inaccessible and multiple, marked by a high rate of attrition and instability. As a result, the demand for the better wages or working conditions through an organized union has been weak and scattered. A strong and well organized work force has been pivotal in ensuring progressive policy and legislation, while simultaneously enabling better enforcement of existing legislations.

9. Platform of Demands Some of the specific demands of domestic workers are: a)recognition of domestic workers as workers. b)decent working conditions, including specified working hours, leave, paid holidays, protection against harassment, social security and access to benefits c)regulation of recruitment and placement agencies.

10. Chennai has over 1.5 million domestic workers and more and more poor women seem to flock to the city. While some women find jobs in construction sites, most, especially the young and the old, turn to domestic work for a living. Many are sexually abused and exploited and not paid their due wages. Their offenders are both employers and those running or working in recruitment agencies. Most women who come to work from the villages are abandoned women, and many have children to support.

11. TARGET GROUPS Awareness/training programme for 2-3 days to be conducted for the following: Women’s committee members of TNHMS - 15 Leaders of Domestic workers’ associations-20 Area incharges of HMS Domestic workers union-100 In this workshop they will be given clear picture about the importance of ratification of C-189 will be explained. Training materials in the regional language based on C-189. Resource person shall be from ILO, HMS, Domestic workers organisations. Materials like banners, pamphlets, posters, etc. will be given to them for conducting campaigns in their area.

12. Convention No. 189 Decent work for domestic workers Domestic work is work. Domestic workers are, like other workers, entitled to decent work. Remuneration - Minimum wage Occupational safety and health - Right to safe and healthy working environment Social security - Social security protection, including maternity benefits Basic rights of domestic workers - Promotion and protection of the human rights of all domestic workers Information on terms and conditions of employment - a written contract Hours of work - Normal hours of work, overtime compensation, periods of daily and weekly rest, and annual - paid leave Standards concerning child domestic workers Standards concerning live-in workers Standards concerning migrant domestic workers Private employment agencies Dispute settlement, complaints, enforcement

13. Rally (Ratification of ILO Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 on Domestic Workers Rights) ON 27 th March, 2012 at KOTA, Rajasthan

14. National Workshop of Trade Union Women's Committee on Decent work for Domestic Workers at Delhi from 29-30 March 2012

15. ON 14 TH JUNE 2012 A THE DEMONSTRATION WAS ORGANISED BY THE TAMILNADU DOMESTIC WORKERS MOVEMENT, DEMANDING THE RATIFICATION OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS CONVENTION-189 AND DOMESTIC WORKERS RECOMMENDATION-201 WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED IN JUNE 2011.

16. 12 BY 12 CAMPAIGN FOR RATIFICATION OF ILO CONVENTION 189 The ITUC is campaigning in the 183 ILO member states, urging them to be among the first 12 to endorse the convention by 2012, which explains the campaigns name, 12x12. Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) — an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation which represents 175 million workers in 151 countries India support the convention and we will ensure the government takes the required steps to ratify it.

17. STRATERGIES Awareness programmes for the Domestic workers. Campaigns Rallys Pamphlets, banners, posters Combined Action programmes by all the National centres Media – News paper, Television, Radio

18. TIME LINE AND RESOURSES Time line shall be 6 months by the end of 2012. ILO, ITUC Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers movement is being utilised for this campaign. Other NGOs, members of recognised unions, etc. can also be utilised.

19. EXPECTED OUTPUT The expected outputs of the campaign will be: Sensitizing the domestic workers at grass root level the need to ratify C189 in India and work towards taking up promotion of ratification of the same. Exerting the pressure on political representatives to ratify C189 in India. Increasing number of unions monitoring respect of domestic workers’ rights. Government of India takes positive action/steps to ratify 189 and Recommendation 201 on Domestic Workers Rights.

21. MISS.VISWANATHAN BAGYALAKSHMI, INDIA June 16: International Domestic Workers Day शुक्रिया 謝謝 terima kasih c ả m ơ n b ạ n 감사합니다 آپ کا شکریہ Grazie நன்றி