More Legal Rights for Indian Maids
India's 4.75 million maids and other household servants are traditionally seen as family members, not employees. However, this seemingly benevolent distinction actually deprives them of basic legal protections and rights. These people, mostly women, are particularly vulnerable to financial and sexual exploitation, trafficking, and confinement.
Anju Sengupta, who has worked more than 30 years as a domestic worker, explains: "Because it's women's work, and it's the dirty household jobs, the work we do is not taken seriously - even though people wouldn't be able to run their lives without us. But unlike the norms in offices, every house I've worked in has had different ideas of what I should be paid, how much time off I can have, how much sugar I can put in my tea."
Legislation has been moving forward lately, but caste-influenced cultural attitudes are slow to change. Indian politicians need to continue creating and enforcing more new laws that protect the rights of domestic workers. Sign this petition to show your support for this underserved labor population!
I am writing to show my support for India's 4.75 million maids and other household servants who, as result of being viewed as family members and not employees, are only now starting to recieve basic labor rights.
Last week in Geneva, Indian delegates from the International Labour Organization (ILO) voted for the first time to adopt employment standards for domestic workers. Additionally, laws were extended that allow health insurance for domestic workers and three family members.
However, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. From time immemorial, these people have been vulnerable to financial and sexual exploitation, trafficking, and confinement. There needs to be more action by the powerful on behalf of this historically powerless population. Besides creating new laws that afford domestic workers the same basic rights as other employees, the government needs to work harder to implement and enforce these laws, especially in rural areas.
If India is going to be viewed as credible in the eyes of the international community, this essential human rights issue cannot be overlooked.
Sincerely,
[your name here]
