Activists draw up their version of dream legislation for domestic workers
The Hindu
A draft of a proposed dream legislation to regulate the employment and conditions of work of domestic workers in Tamil Nadu was presented on Thursday as part of the 13th anniversary of International Domestic Workers Day that falls on June 16.
A draft of a proposed dream legislation to regulate the employment and conditions of work of domestic workers in Tamil Nadu was presented on Thursday as part of the 13th anniversary of International Domestic Workers Day that falls on June 16.
The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women and the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (TNDWWT) honoured domestic workers on the occasion. Workers held placards that demanded respect, steady wages and leave from work, which are included in the draft of the legislation proposed by activists. One of the placards read, “Treat workers as workers, not slaves. Respect their dignity, reputation and rights regardless of religion, caste or gender”.
“All your children’s achievements and where they have reached is all because of your hard work”, said R Girirajan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. A copy of the document was handed over to the MP to raise it with the Central government.
“Demands such as job safety, minimum wages and increase in pension are very important. In most cases, workers do not have access to a toilet while they work for hours and they handle managing their own households as well as their employer’s,” said A.S Kumari, chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women.
“If you don’t go to work on time one day, they could take your job away but this doesn’t happen in a company and this has to change,” said Virgil D’Sami, director, Arunodhaya Centre for Street and Working Children and founding trustee, TNDWWT.
The draft covers definitions of domestic workers, minimum wages, grievance redressal, leave, discrimination and protection against crimes. It will be submitted to the government so a State legislation can be adopted that protect domestic workers.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.