Ensuring legitimate rights to domestic workers stressed

Integrated efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned can be the best way of ensuring the legitimate rights of women domestic workers.

Utmost emphasis should be given on bringing them under the existing labour law so that they can be dignified everywhere in society.

Administrative officials and development activists came up with the observations while addressing a rally and street corner meeting in observance of International Domestic Workers Day 2024 here today.

Association for Community Development (ACD) organized the rally supported by the Commissioner Office of Rajshahi division at its premises.

The main theme of the day this year is ‘Care for those who care for you’.

Divisional Commissioner Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir addressed the meeting as a focal person saying domestic workers are not isolated and are not outside of the society.

In the present social context, many of the solvent families, even some of the low-incoming ones, are seen dependent on the household workers.

But, many of them are seen deprived of their basic rights, subjected to discrimination and torture and do not receive proper justice. Right-protection of domestic workers has become an urgent need.

In the conventional system, the domestic workers do not receive any appointment letter during employment. They don’t even have maternity leave.

So, all the government and non-government entities concerned should come forward and work together for ensuring their fundamental rights as It’s not possible to ensure sustainable development by leaving domestic workers behind.

Additional Divisional Commissioner Tarafder Akter Jamil and Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

To mark the day, Oxfam in Bangladesh organized a roundtable discussion at Hotel X in the city on behalf of its ‘Ensuring Rights of Women Domestic Workers’ project supported by ACD.

Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Rashidul Hassan addressed the discussion as chief guest, while Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Development ATM Golam Mahbub and Deputy Director of the Labour Department Shafiqul Islam as special guests.

Ward Councilor of Rajshahi City Corporation Muhammad Kamruzzaman and domestic workers Kulsum Khatun, Jannatul Ferdous also spoke. (BSS)