A panel discussion on ‘Work like any other? Accounting for domestic work in India’ was organized on 19 February 2014 at the Press Club of India. The speakers included Bharti Birla, National Project Coordinator, ILO; Neetha Pillai, Professor, Centre for Women’s Development Studies; Amarjit Kaur, National Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress; Maxima Ekka, Domestic Workers Forum; Brother Verghese Theckanath; Convenor, Domestic Workers’ Forum of India, and National Platform for comprehensive legislation for Domestic Workers, Hyderabad.
Their numbers are significant, and so is their contribution to society and national economies. Yet they remain largely invisible and without rights. This is the story of tens of thousands of domestic workers who work day in, day out, often in the shadows of others’ homes, without rights, entitlements or social protection. “I want the Government to give us equal rights. I want society to treat us with respect,” said Maxima Ekka, who was earlier a domestic worker, and who is now a member of the Domestic Workers Forum from Jharkhand.
Key highlights from the panel discussion that was organized on 19 Feb 2014 at the Press Club of India. The panel discussion highlighted the rights and benefits for domestic workers, the role of legislation, the role of placement agencies and expectations from employers of domestic workers.