Chapter: One

1.1 Introduction

Domestic work is one of the main occupations of women as well as many men worldwide. It is

well known that the economic dependence of women upon men is one of the primary reasons

which has pushed them into the background and resulted in their having only a secondary status

both within and outside the family (Wadhera,1976). For many women it is one of the very few

options for paid employment. Most of the domestic workers come from the poorer sections of

society. Many are migrants from rural areas to towns/cities. There are many children engaged in

this work and are too vulnerable to abuse. Many are at risk of extreme abuse. In spite of the fact

that the fair sex has proved their mettle in every walk of life, their contribution is not given due

credit in most cases. Yet, their economic status is still low as reflected by the census data itself

that present a distorted picture of women particularly of those who are engaged in the informal

sector of urban economy (Tripathy, 1991). It is found that among all categories in the informal

sector, domestic servants’ income is the lowest and the problems are many (Sundaram, 1966).

They are engaged in household tasks, which include washing utensils, floor cleaning, washing of

cloths, cooking as well as some outdoor tasks such as purchase of vegetables etc. Most of them

live in slums, lead a monotonous life without any color, struggle every day for their survival and

face a numerous problems in their day-to-day life like long hours of work, insecurity regarding

jobs, low status within the house as well as in the outside world (Gathia, 1983). The ILO

(International Labour Organization) firmly believes that regulation of working conditions

combined with empowerment of organizations of domestic workers can make an important

contribution to gender equity and poverty alleviation.

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1.2 Background

Domestic work is both an integral and invisible part of our society. The practice of employing

domestic help is historically embedded in our culture and continues to be part of everyday life.

Domestic service, or the employment of people for wages in their employer's residence, was

sometimes simply called "service". It evolved into a hierarchical system in various countries at

various times.

The United Kingdom's Master and Servant Act 1823 was the first of its kind and influenced the

creation of domestic service laws in other nations, although legislation tended to favor

employers. However, before the passing of such Acts servants and workers in general, had no

protection in law. The only real advantage that domestic service provided was the provision of

meals, accommodation, and sometimes clothes, in addition to a modest wage. Service was

normally an apprentice system with room for advancement through the ranks.

In Britain this system peaked towards the close of the Victorian era, perhaps reaching its most

complicated and rigidly structured state during the Edwardian period, which reflected the limited

social mobility of the time. The equivalent in the United States was the Gilded Age.

Domestic work has a long history in Indian subcontinent with both men and women working in

others’ homes as ‘servants’. The affluent had servants, mostly men, with loyalty, obligation and

patronage being the salient aspects of this relationship. (Mehrotra 2010:2)

South Asia is probably home to the largest number of domestic workers in the world who

account for a higher share of the labor force than in any other region. Domestic service in this

region, particularly in Bangladesh, is a historical phenomenon with strong legal, social and

economic implications. Yet in terms of basic research and analysis, not to speak of policy

implications, this phenomenon remains a virgin territory for research in Bangladesh, a country

that employs an unusually large number of men and women in the informal sector as domestic

servants.

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1.3 Objectives of the Research

a) To inquest of the domestic worker’s oppressed life;

b) To examine the basic characteristics of these workers including socio-economic

conditions;

c) To study their job security and job satisfaction as well as barriers at workplace and home.

1.4 Justification of the Research

a) This research proposal is mainly related to the female domestic workers and its way is to

involvement in domestic sectors for a better and safer socio-economic status and

employment.

b) This research paper contains current domestic workers socio-economic status and

conditions and how it is increased through point out themes such as basic demographic

features, nature of services, work profile of the domestic workers, access to social

security, health, union awareness, household assets and liability, habitat, attitude of

domestic workers towards gender and domestic violence.

c) The research paper helps to identify the gaps and the limits of the legal protection.

d) The research paper explains the number of people who are engaged in domestic activities.

1.5 Research Question

This research proposal consists of some research questions. The research questions used in this

research are –

a) What are the obstacles that domestic workers face according to their socio-economic

conditions?

b) What steps should be taken to overcome their challenges at workplace and home?

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1.6 Review of Relevant Literature

Sarkar Siddhartha (2005) in his paper “Women as Paid Domestic Workers” he found that

among all categories in the informal sector, earnings of domestic servants are lowest and their

problems are many. They are being employed generally for household tasks which include

washing utensils and clothes, fetching water, sweeping and cleaning house along with a few

outdoor tasks like irregular marketing, grocery shopping, ration drawing even childcare activity.

In fact, many of these women are looking after more than one household but spend more time

and work far more for their employer’s than work in their own household.

Montes Soledad Gonzalez (2007) in his paper “Challenging Custom: Domestic Violence and

Women’s Struggles for Sexual and Reproductive Rights in a Mexican Indian Region” In this

he showed that women experienced some form of domestic violence. Such violence not only has

consequences for women’s health and well-being but also can limit their decision-making

capacity in sexual and reproductive matters. This article reports on how a women’s organization

dealt with the problem of domestic violence and its consequences. Framing this case in the wider

processes that have taken place at the national level, the article shows how the sexual and

reproductive rights discourse has been appropriated as an important tool for collective actions

undertaken to change local values and practices in an effort to build a new culture of women’s

rights.

Ramirez-Machado José Maria (2003) in his paper “Domestic work, conditions of work and

employment: A legal perspective” he pointing out the main characteristics of domestic work and

provides an in-depth national and international comparative legal analysis of the conditions of

work and employment of domestic workers. The study thus helps to identify the gaps and the

limits of the legal protection provided by national legislation. Improving the working conditions

for this category of worker -among the most vulnerable - is certainly a matter of social justice. It

is also a way of attracting new workers and creating more decent employment opportunities. In

addition, if we consider that domestic work is part of the equation of a good work-and-life

balance, it is in everyone’s interest to participate in improving the current situation.

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Kabeer Naila & Mahmud Simeen (2004) in their paper “GLOBALIZATION, GENDER AND

POVERTY:BANGLADESHI WOMEN WORKERS IN EXPORT AND LOCAL MARKETS” he explores the

poverty implications of this new form of employment through a comparison of the socio-

economic backgrounds, wages and working conditions and contributions to household needs of

women working for global markets with those working for domestic markets.

Hannan Kate (2005) in his paper “China: Migrant Workers Want 'Decent Work” he discusses

the reasons young migrant workers are unhappy with the employment and conditions on offer in

China's export manufacturing hubs and domestic work.

Noonan Mary c. (2001) in her paper “The Impact of Domestic Work on Men’s and Women’s

Wages” she makes two contributions to research on the impact of housework on wages. First,

She refine the arguments linking men’s and women’s involvement in domestic work to their

wages by categorizing housework into different types of chores, asking whether this dimension

of household work affects wages. Second, longitudinal panel data are used to formulate fixed-

effects models, providing a clearer specification of the relationship between housework time and

wages.

Peterson Elin (2007) in his paper “The Invisible Careers Framing Domestic Work(ers) in

Gender Equality Policies in Spain” he explores how paid domestic work is framed in state

policies and discourses, drawing upon theoretical discussions on gender, welfare and global care

chains. He argues that dominant policy frames relate gender inequality to women’s unpaid

domestic work and care, while domestic workers are essentially the invisible ‘other’.

Empowering and disempowering frames are discussed; domestic workers are mainly constructed

as a solution to the care problem and only marginally as subjects and rights-holders. The overall

aim is to examine how public policies legitimize and (re)produce social inequalities related to

gender, class and nationality.

Rodríguez Encarnación Gutiérrez(2007) in his paper “The “Hidden Side” of the New

Economy On Transnational Migration, Domestic Work, and Unprecedented Intimacy” he

attend to these issues by placing the development of the care and domestic sector in the contexts

of a postcolonial conjuncture and EU migration policies and their local implementation. He will

then focus on the development of the care and domestic work sector and its connection to

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transnational migration in the last decade before looking at the regulation of domestic work. His

reflection on the space of unprecedented intimacy within reproductive work using excerpts of

interviews conducted with migrant domestic workers. He will conclude with some thoughts on

citizenship, workers’ rights, and inter section.

1.7 Conceptual framework

A conceptual framework is an analytical tool with several variations and contexts. It is used to

make conceptual distinctions and organize ideas. Strong conceptual frameworks capture

something real and do this in a way that is easy to remember and apply. The framework is

composed of dependent and independent variables in the study. Which are-

Independent variable.

Dependent variable.

Independent variable means such variables that influence or seen to influence other variables. In

this research, socio-economic conditions are the independent variable.

Dependent variable is those, which resulted from the function of the independent variables. In

this research, domestic worker and their challenges are the dependent variable.

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Independent Variable

Socio-economic conditions

Dependent variable

Domestic worker

Challenges

Problems at workplace

Problems at home

Sexual harassment

Lack of legal protection

Security risks

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1.8 Operational Definition

1.8.1 Socio-economic condition:

Socio-economic condition is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person's

work experience and of an individual's or family’s economic and social position in relation to

others, based on income, education, and occupation. When analyzing a family’s Socio-economic

condition (SEC), the household income, earners' education, and occupation are examined as well

as combined income, versus with an individual, when their own attributes are assessed.

1.8.2 Domestic worker:

A domestic worker is a person who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers

perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for

children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as

housekeeping. Responsibilities may also include cooking, doing laundry and ironing, food

shopping and other household errands. Some domestic workers live within the household where

they work.

1.8.3 Challenges:

Challenges of domestic workers mean what are the barriers that they face at their working

environment. It includes- problem at home, problem at workplace, sexual harassment, lack of

legal protection, security risks etc.

1.9 Conceptual issues

1.9.1 Different categories of domestic work

Defined in terms of types of work performed and the time spent at work, i.e., in the employer’s

home. There are two distinct categories of domestic work

a) Live-out

b) live-in

Live-out work is primarily of two types: first, those who work in one house for the whole day

and go back to their homes in the evening and; secondly, those who work in different houses,

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moving from one to the other, performing one or more tasks in each household. They may clean

in one house, chop vegetables in another and wash clothes in the third, while some others may

only perform a task, such as cooking. They often visit these households twice a day though the

requirements in some families may be limited to only once a day.

Another form of part-time live-in work is in terms of piece-rate. It is often applied to washing

clothes and wages are calculated based on buckets of clothes. (Mehrotra Tandon Surabhi,

December 2010)

1.9.2 Total amount of domestic workers

Millions of people, the vast majority of them women and girls, are employed in private home as

domestic workers. The ILO estimated in 2013 that there were at least 53 million domestic

workers around the world as of 2010. An estimated 11.5 million children under the age of 18 are

engaged in domestic labor worldwide. Globally, one in every 13 female wage workers is a

domestic worker (7.5 percent). The ratio is as high as one in four in Latin America and the

Caribbean (26.6 percent) and almost one in three in the Middle East (31.8 percent).

1.9.3 Domestic Workers in Bangladesh

1. Total Domestic Workers : 331,000

(Labour Force Survey-2006)

2. Child Domestic Worker: 420,000

(ILO-UNICEF Baseline Survey 2007)

3. Among them 83 percent are female, who are mostly child and young in age.

4. Estimated domestic workers: about 2 million

(Calculation based on household of the Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporation)

1.9.4 Situation and Legal Protection

1. Domestic workers are excluded from the Bangladesh LabourAct-2006;

2. Domestic Servant Registration Ordinance-1961 is negative to labour rights protection;

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3. Domestic workers’ income is not included in Gross Domestic Product;

4. There is no monitoring system in domestic worker protection system;

5. Domestic workers have no scope for complain.

1.9.5 Domestic Workers’ Rights Network, Bangladesh

1. Trade unions, human rights organisation and NGOs who are working for the rights of

workers came together to formulate the Network.

2. Domestic Workers' Rights Network (DWRN) formed in December 2006 for Protection of

Domestic Workers Rights.

3. 32 organizations comprising trade unions, human rights organisations and NGOs are

member of the Network.

4. BILS works as the secretariat of the Network.

1.9.6 Network Activities

1. Network submitted memorandum to the ministry of labour and employment to account

domestic worker in the labor act 2006 on 9 January 2008.

2. Ministry Decided to formulate Domestic workers’ Protection and Welfare policy and

invited network to contribute in drafting the Domestic workers’ Protection and Welfare

policy 2010.

3. Network organised series of meeting, workshop, seminar, rally, human chain, letter

campaign on raising demand for approval of the policy and ratify the ILO 189.

1.9.7 Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy 2010, Bangladesh

Proposed responsibilities of the employers:

1. Contract with domestic workers/guardians

2. Appointment letter & Identity Card for the domestic workers

3. Payment of monthly wage within 7 days and festival allowance

4. Segregation of working hours with sufficient leisure

5. One day leave per week and 14 days leave as Annual Holidays

6. Safe and hygiene of sleeping place, Maternity benefits

7. Education and skill training, Treatment facilities

8. Compensation to the injured/dead workers.

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1.9.8 Proposed responsibilities of the government

1. Registration of the domestic workers

2. Fixation of wages

3. Punishment for illegal action against domestic workers.

4. Regular inspection and develop monitoring mechanism by involving non government

organisations & civil society members for protecting rights of domestic workers.

1.9.9 Proposed responsibilities of the workers

1. Giving one month prior notice to the employer for dissolving the work.

2. Submit complains to the authority.

1.9.10 Prohibition of Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy 2010, Bangladesh

1. No appointment of domestic worker under 14 years of age.

2. Never locked the home when the domestic worker is inside.

3. Never engage the child domestic workers in heavy and dangerous works.

4. Never appoint any domestic worker without his/her consent.

1.9.11 Advocacy on ratification of ILO Convention 189

1. Sharing with National & Regional Trade Union Federations

2. Sharing with Human Rights organizations of Domestic Workers Rights Network

3. Facilitating media reporting both print & electronic

4. Orientation to the civil society members through publication

5. Memorandum to the Honable Minister, State Minister, Secretary of the Ministry on

Labour & Employment

6. ‘Thanks Letter ‘to the Bangladesh delegates (govt., employer & workers representative)

of 100th ILC

7. Press Conference demanding ratification of ILO Convention 189 on July 25, 2011

8. Publication of booklet on ILO Convention 189 & ILO Recommendation 201 in Bengali

and circulate.

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Chapter: Two

Research Methodology

2.1.0 Techniques of Data Collection

Data have been collected from two sources:

2.1.1 Primary sources

2.1.2 Secondary sources

For this study, I have collected relevant data from both primary & secondary sources.

2.1.1. Primary sources

Primary data are those, which are collected from the field level by using questionnaire

techniques. In this study, the questionnaire is structured and mixed (open ended and close

ended).

2.1.2 Secondary sources

To enrich the study secondary sources of data are used. Researchers reuse and repurpose

information as secondary data because it is easier and less expensive to collect. However, it is

seldom as useful and accurate as primary data. These data are collected from the published

books, articles, journals, newspapers, e-Books, and government websites etc which are related to

this study.

2.2 Method of Data Collection

Survey method has been followed in this research. This method is suitable to obtain information

from the field. It is one of the most widely used method in social science for attaining

information about a person’s idea, belief, thought, attitude, felling etc .This method will define

the actual unit of analysis in the study that helps in getting expected results.

2.3 Approaches of the Research

Both quantitative and qualitative data are used in this research to achieve the objectives of the

research. So this study is based on mixed approach.

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2.3.1 Quantitative approach: It emphasizes understanding of social phenomena through

quantifiable evidence, and often relies on statistical analysis of many cases to create

valid and reliable general claims. Related to quantity.

2.3.2 Qualitative approach: It emphasizes understanding of social phenomena through

direct observation, communication with participants, or analysis of texts, and may

stress contextual subjective accuracy over generality. Related to quality.

2.4 Unit of Analysis

Each domestic worker (male or female) is considered here as unit of analysis.

2.5 Population

All domestic workers of Akhalia, Madina Market, Subid Bazar area are the population of this

research. Total population of three areas is unknown.

2.6 Sample and Sampling

For the selection of sample, this study has been followed the purposive sampling. In this study,

32 respondents have been selected. The study has been conducted through non probability

purposive sampling. This method is more conducive to select certain units for judgment as the

research purpose taking relevant and representative samples from the large population. However,

using this method a small sample may even become highly representative.

2.7 Description of the Research Area

The research area of this proposal is 3 areas which are Akhalia, Madina Market, Subid Bazar

under Sylhet city corporation. I selected those areas because there are many domestic workers

who are engaged in various domestic works.

2.8 Limitations of the Research

Though the study is not assumed to be free from limitation, it has been tried to minimize error.

The limitations are

1. To make the concept understandable to the respondent also tough as they had no

orientation to it.

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2. The respondents are not always interested to disclose information about the sensitive or

the matter of physical abuse.

3. Because of sufficient knowledge, sometimes they provide wrong information.

4. Small portion of population may not represent the whole diverse study area.

2.9 Data Presentation and Analysis

This study has conducted through the structure questionnaire based on survey method.

During the questionnaire, I have found various types of data and relevant informations. These

data and informations will clear research concept and finally it will be helpful to come as

researcher findings.

Now, data is collected through the questionnaire is presented and analyzed below-

Sex of the respondent

Male6%

Female94%

According to the chart, 2 domestic workers (6%) are male and 30 domestic workers (94%) are

female. Finally, most of the workers are female.

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Marital status

Type of Martial status Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Married 22 69%

Single 6 19%

Divorced 4 12%

From the table, it has been showed that, 22 domestic workers (69%) are married, 6 workers

(19%) are single and 4 workers (12%) are divorced. So, most of them are married.

Educational level

Illiterate56%

Up to literacy38%

Primary6%

From the table, it has been showed that, 18 domestic workers (56%) are illiterate, 12 domestic

workers (38%) are up to literacy and 2 domestic workers (6%) are completed their primary

education. So, most of them are illiterate.

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Amount of migration

Yes81%

No19%

This chart has been showed that 26 domestic workers (81%) have been migrated from outside

and 8 domestic workers (19%) are local. So, most of them are migrated from outside.

Reasons for migration

In search for work12%

Parents mi-gration

31%Husband migration

54%

Others4%

According to this chart, 3 domestic workers (11%) have been migrated because in search of

work, 8 domestic workers (31%) because of parent’s migration, 18 domestic workers (54%)

because of husband migration and 1 domestic worker (4%) because of other reasons.

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Number of house/mess worker delivers service daily

Number of house/mess of work Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

2 3 9%

3 11 34%

4 18 57%

According to this table, 3 domestic workers (9%) are working in 2 houses, 11 domestic workers

(34%) are working in 3 messes and among 18 domestic workers 3 workers are working in house

and messes, and other 15 workers are working in mess. Finally, they have been preferred to work

in mess rather than house.

Working hour

4 hours 5 hours 6 hours02468

101214161820

Working hour

According to this column, 6 respondents (19%) have been worked 4 hours, 8 respondents (25%)

have been worked 5 hours and 18 respondents (56%) have been worked 6 hours.

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Monthly income

1000-2000 2000-4000 4000-6000 6000-80000

246

810

121416

1820

From the chart, 3 domestic workers (9%) have been earned 1000-2000 TK, 8 workers (25%)

have been earned 2000-4000 TK, 3 workers have been earned (9%) 4000-6000 TK and 18

domestic workers (57%) have been earned 6000-8000 TK.

Satisfaction on payment

Yes6%

No94%

This chart shows that 32 domestic workers (94%) are not satisfied on payment and 2 domestic

workers (6%) are satisfied on their payment.

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Enjoying holiday

Enjoying holiday Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Yes 25 78%

No 7 22%

According to this table, 25 respondents (78%) have been enjoyed holiday in weekly or monthly

or yearly and other 7 respondents (22%) have not been enjoyed holiday.

Payment for extra work

Yes94%

No6%

According to this chart, 30 domestic workers (94%) have been got payment for extra work and 2

domestic workers (6%) have not been got payment for extra.

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Wage penalty

Wage penalty Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Yes 20 63%

No 12 37%

From this table, 20 domestic workers (62%) have been faced wage penalty and 12 domestic

workers (37%) have not been faced wage penalty.

Access to health facility

Types of Access to health facility Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

General pharmacy 17 53%

Rural medical center 5 15%

Homeopathic treatment 6 19%

Medical treatment 4 13%

From this table, it has been showed that 17 respondents (53%) have been got health facility from

general pharmacy, 5 respondents (15%) have been got health facility from rural medical center, 6

respondents (19%) have been got health facility from homeopathic treatment and 4 respondents

(13%) have been got health facility from medical treatment.

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Number of verbally abused

Yes38%

No63%

According to chart, 12 domestic workers (37%) are faced verbally abused and 20domestic

workers (63%) have not been faced verbally abused.

Level of job satisfaction

Yes No0

5

10

15

20

25

30

According to this column, there are 5 respondents (16%) have been satisfied with their job and

there are 27 respondents (84%) have not been satisfied with their job.

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Suspection of theft

Number of suspection of theft Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Yes 13 40.62%

No 19 59.38%

This study has been shown that 13 domestic workers (41%) had been suspected of theft and 19

domestic workers (59%) are not.

Financial support by husband

Yes82%

No18%

According to this chart, 18 respondents (82%) have been got financial support by their husband

and 4 respondents (18%) have not been got financial support by their husband.

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Insecurity on job

Level of insecurity Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Yes 9 28%

No 23 72%

According to table, 9 domestic workers (28%) fell insecurity on job and 23 domestic workers

(72%) don’t fell insecurity.

Loan of respondents

Yes59%

No41%

According to chart, 19 respondents (59%) have loan and 13 respondents (41%) have no loan.

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Lender of the loan and amount

Type of lender Amount (TK) Number of

respondent’s

Percentage of

respondent’s

Bank 1000-12000 6 32%

Private Money lender 7000-8000 3 16%

Employer 3000-4000 4 21%

Relatives 1500-2000 3 16%

Friends 500-1000 2 10%

Others 100-500 1 5%

From the table, finds that 6 domestic workers (32%) are take loan from bank, 3 workers (16%)

have been taken loan from private money lender, 4 workers (21%) from employer, 3 workers

(16%) from relatives, 2 workers (10%) from friends and 1 worker (5%) have been taken loan

from others.

Pattern of oppression

Pattern of oppression Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Verbal insult 10 31%

Not paying the salary 3 9%

Beating 7 22%

Sexual harassment 3 9%

Verbal insult, sexual harassment,

not paying the salary

5 16%

No comment 4 13%

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From this table, 10 respondents (31%) argued that they are faced verbal insult, 3 respondents

(9%) are faced not paying the salary, 7 respondents (22%) are faced beating, 3 respondents (9%)

argued that they are faced Sexual harassment, 5 respondents (16%) are faced verbal insult, sexual

harassment, not paying the salary and 4 domestic workers (13%) have no comment

Reason for carrying out domestic work

Reason Number of respondent’s Percentage of respondent’s

Availability 18 56%

No need of educational qualification 5 16%

Increasing family income 5 16%

Encouraged by friends 2 6%

others 2 6%

According to this table, it has been showed that 18 domestic workers (57%) have been chosen

this sector because of availability, 5 workers (16%) have been chosen because there has no need

of educational qualification, 5 workers (16%) have been chosen because of increasing family

income, 2 workers (6%) have been encouraged by friends and 2 workers (6%) have been chosen

this sector because of other reasons.

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Willing to work at house or mess

Mess59%

House22%

No commen

t19%

From this chart, 19 domestic workers (59%) have been preferred to work in mess, 7 domestic

workers (22%) have been preferred to work in house and 6 domestic workers (19%) have not

given their opinion.

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Chapter: Three

3.1 Major Findings and Discussion

This research provides a comprehensive overview of the situation of domestic workers in Sylhet

City Corporation. Based on the previous results, the findings here focus on the socio-economic

conditions and challenges of domestic workers, though it also provide some observations on lack

of legal protection , terms and conditions of Work etc.

3.1.1 Problems at work place

The major problems faced by the women domestic servants at work place are as follows:

1. 94% of the domestic workers are not satisfied with their present salary and expect more.

2. 6% workers expressed their grievances for doing ‘extra work’ when guests come.

3. Salary of 37% workers get reduced for their absence in work. However, all of them get

leave if they fall sick and inform the employer.

4. They want at least one holiday per week. But 22% of the employers are not in favor of

this demand as expressed by the respondents.

3.1.2 Problems at home

Adolescent girls suffer less from unpleasant behavior of their respective fathers whereas most of

women have drunkard husbands. Some of them suffer very much due to the violent attitude of

their husbands. However, most of them watch TV to forget stress and strains of their daily life.

Their problems in details are discussed below:

1. Most of the women are the bread winners of their family and getting less economic

support from their kith and kin. 18% women have not been got financial support by their

husband.

2. 18 domestic workers (56%) have been chosen this sector because of availability, 5

workers (16%) have been chosen because there has no need of educational qualification,

5 workers (16%) have been chosen because of increasing family income, 2 workers (6%)

have been encouraged by friends and 2 workers (6%) have been chosen this sector

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because of other reasons. Finally, most of them are working in this sector because of

poverty.

3. Most of the women after returning back to their home repeat the same work as there is no

helping hand to reduce their burden of work. However, a very few respondents reported

that their daughter-in-laws or mother help them doing household-work.

4. Though they usually go to General pharmacy, some of them (13%) prefer to get treatment

from medical . 17 respondents (53%) have been got health facility from general

pharmacy, 5 respondents (15%) have been got health facility from rural medical center, 6

respondents (19%) have been got health facility from homeopathic treatment

5. Many of the respondents express their inefficiency to look after their children in study

because of their inadequate knowledge. A few of their husbands spent time to teach their

off springs and the rests, in spite of having free evening hours watch television hours

watch or spend time by playing cards and taking drinks.

3.1.3 Poor and unregulated terms and conditions of work

The terms and conditions of Domestic Workers are unregulated-

1. No special laws to protect the rights of domestic and household Workers.

2. No Job description.

3. Excessively long working hours and too many things to do in one day.

4. Low pay and no overtime pay.

5. Limited access to social security.

6. Various forms of abuse from some employers: sexual, emotional, verbal and physical

abuse. Most of the verbal and physical abuse is from children of employers..

7. Some workers are subject to forced labor.

8. Wrongful dismissal.

3.1.4 Sexual harassment

It is widely recognized that women find it very difficult to report sexual harassment at

workplaces and are forced to remain silent. This could be because women are often blamed for

the harassment. The power dynamics between employers and employees and fear of

discrimination or dismissal also ensure they keep silent. Lack of awareness of laws, little

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confidence in complaint mechanisms or stigma due to breach in confidentiality can also be

responsible for the silence (Sanhita 2007). From the table, 3 respondents (9.37%) argued that

they have been faced Sexual harassment, 5 respondents (15.62%) have been faced verbal insult,

sexual harassment, not paying the salary

3.1.5 Lack of legal protection

The majority of us work under terms and conditions that are unregulated. There are no specific

laws to protect the rights of household and domestic workers. Our socio-economic conditions are

sub-standard because our work is not protected in law and in practice. Although there is a

Minimum Wage law, most workers have no contract of employment and as said before no job

description.

3.1.6 Educational level

Education is the backbone of a nation. But maximum domestic servants are illiterate which fall

them into poor socio-economic conditions and challenges. This research has been showed that,

18 domestic workers (57%) are illiterate, 12 domestic workers (37%) are up to literacy and 2

domestic workers (6%) are completed their primary education. So, most of them are illiterate.

3.1.7 Tendency of taking loan

There is a tendency among most of the domestic workers are taking loan from different options.

This paper shows that, 6 domestic workers (32%) are take loan from bank, 3 workers (16%) have

been taken loan from private money lender, 4 workers (21%) from employer, 3 workers (16%)

from relatives, 2 workers (10%) from friends and 1 worker (5%) have been taken loan from

others.

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3.2 Recommendations

This paper provides a number of recommendations to overcome the domestic worker’s socio-

economic challenges. These are discussed below-

3.2.1 New laws

New laws are needed to specifically protect our rights as women and as household workers. The

Ministry of Labour and employment should review of existing labour laws, identify gaps and

enact new laws to better protect the rights of women household and Domestic Workers.

3.2.2 Improve labor monitoring

The Ministry of Labour and Employment must increase dialogue between the Domestic

Workers Rights Network (DWRN), trade unions, human rights organisations and NGOs and

identify strategies to monitor working conditions in homes. The Ministry must train labour

inspectors, implement public education programmes to increase awareness of the new ILO

Convention, and the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers.

3.2.3 Increase partnerships

The Domestic Workers Rights Network (DWRN) is committed to build a stronger partnership

with the Ministry of Labour and employment and trade unions, human rights organisations and

NGOs to get support for the new proposed legislation that will better protect and promote the

ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. This will encourage more decent work, social protection and social

dialogue with household worker.

Besides,

1. Training in advocacy and communications to use research findings for advocacy and as

evidence to guide policy and programmes to improve the rights, wages and working

condition of domestic and household workers. This will include working with state

agencies to ensure more access to existing state benefits to support the most vulnerable of

our members.

2. Public education and awareness building programmes should be increased.

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3. Finally, the government should give strict attention to ensure and monitor proper

implementation of Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy 2010.

3.3 Conclusion

To sum up, the survey data shows that the socio economic condition of the respondents is not

good. Their life histories also reveal that they experienced the same condition at their young age.

They face problems both at home and at work place. At home, they do not get the pleasant

atmosphere what they want. At work place, they have a very workload with less remuneration.

They want to make their children educated but an increasing cost is a great concern. Migration is

big concern that many of the urban dwellers, in unorganized sectors particularly women and their

children will become the poorest people in the world. However, concentrating on their interest,

they are working very hard for a better future.

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3.4 References

1. Employment Protections for Domestic Workers: An Overview of Federal Law

2. Hazarika Bipul, Ghosh Saswata, Chattopadhyay Aparajita, Majumder Amlan & Kumar

Sunit (January 2002)” WOMEN DOMESTIC WORKERS: THEIR LIFE, PROBLEM AND DREAM”

3. Mehrotra Tandon Surabhi (December 2010) “Domestic Workers: Conditions, Rights and

Responsibilities”

4. Montes Soledad Gonzalez (2007) “Challenging Custom: Domestic Violence and

Women’s Struggles for Sexual and Reproductive Rights in a Mexican Indian Region”

5. Noonan Mary c. (2001) “The Impact of Domestic Work on Men’s and Women’s Wages”

6. Rodríguez Encarnación Gutiérrez(2007) “The “Hidden Side” of the New Economy On

Transnation Ramirez-Machado José Maria (2003) “Domestic work, conditions of work

and employment: A legal perspective”

7. al Migration, Domestic Work, and Unprecedented Intimacy”

8. Sarkar Siddhartha (2005) “Women as Paid Domestic Workers”

9. Selim Nadia (February 2009) “Domestic Service in Bangladesh: A Case Study in

Dhaka”.

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Questionnaire

Name:………………………………………

Sex: a. male b. female

Age: ………………………………………

1. What is your marital status?

a. Married b. Unmarried c. Widow d. Divorced

2. What is your educational level?

a. Illiterate b. Literate c. Primary d. Others

3. Have you migrated from outside?

a. Yes b. No

4. What is the reason for migration?

………………………………………………………….

5. How many houses do you provide your service daily?

………………………………………………………….

6. What is your Monthly income?

………………….TK

7. Is it sufficient amount for you and your family?

a. Yes b. No

8. What is the frequency of payment?

a. Daily b. Weekly c. Monthly d. Other

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9. How many hours do you work per day?

………………….hours

10. Do you get food at the work place?

a. Yes b. No

11. Do you have fixed weekly holiday?

a. Yes b. No

12. Do you work even on holidays?

a. Yes b. No

13. Do you get pay for extra work?

a. Yes b. No

14. Do you suffer from a wage penalty?

a. Yes b. No

15. Which health facility do you access if you are ill?

………………………………………………………

16. Are you verbally abused by anyone at home?

a. Yes b. No

17. If answer is yes, who are they?

a. My Husband b. Father In-law c. mother in-law

d. Sister in-law e. Brother In-law f. Others

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18. Are you satisfied on your job?

………………………………………………………….

19. Have you ever been suspected of theft by the employer?

a. Yes b. No

20. How does your husband support your family financially?

………………………………………………………….

21. Are you verbally abused by your husband?

a. Yes b. No

22. What are the major reasons, your husband abuse you?

a. Dowry b. less earning c. not giving him money

d. Bad health e. because of my parents’ f. other

23. Do you feel insecurity on your job?

a. Yes b. No

24. Do you have any loan outstanding?

a. Yes b. No

25. Present Outstanding Loan Amount in Rs

………………………….TK

26. Who is/are the Lender?

a. Bank b. Private Money lender c. Employer

d. Relatives e. Friends f. Other

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27. Do you experience one or more of the following treatments by the family you are working

for?

a. Verbal insult

b. Not paying the salary

c. Not giving food

d. Beating

e. Sexual harassment

f. All of these

28. Why are you doing this job?

………………………………………………………….

29. What do you prefer to work in family or mess?

………………………………………………………….

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