39 cases of violence against domestic workers reported in 14 months

LAHORE:The child domestic workers are silently abused, tortured and murdered inside the boundary walls. A total 39 incidences of violence against domestic workers were reported by media in the last 14 months, during the period between April 2023 to July-2024, making almost three cases per month.

Eleven child workers were tortured to death, 5 were raped while 23 were physically beaten causing injuries. Main reasons for these incidents of violence reported as; theft allegation, eating food without employers’ permission and unsatisfactory work. 62% of these workers were below 15 years of age”.

These views were expressed by the speakers at a provincial stakeholder consultation on “Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019 – Progress Review & Way Forward” organised by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) here Tuesday at local hotel.

Besides representatives of govt and trade unions, women domestic workers and their union leaders from Lahore, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Toba Tek Singh joined the event. Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director WISE, Bushra Khaliq said children below the legal age continue to be employed as domestic worker, and the number of cases where domestic workers are facing physical abuse and exploitation is increasing.

“The situation for the child domestic workers is dire in every possible way. While the authorities concerned are found reluctant to take action. It will not improve without criminalising the practice of employing them, she added. During the period between April 2023 to July-2024, a total 39 incidences of violence against domestic workers were reported by media in the last 14 months, making almost 3 cases per month. According to data, 33 (85pc) were female and 6 (15pc) were male. 11 child workers were tortured to death, 5 were raped and 23 were physically beaten causing injuries. Majority of cases (70pc) were reported to police, however majority of cases were hushed up and no tangible action was taken expect in few high-profile cases. Main reasons behind the incidents of violence were reported as; theft allegation and eating food without employers’ permission. As far as age group is concerned 24 (62%) were below 15 years of age,” she said.

Nazir Ahmad Gazi, Executive Director GODH, said such ruthless incidents have exposed not only the mindset of the rich employers that is all too common in elite Pakistani society but apathy of the govt to protect children.

Article 3 of the Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019 says “No child under the age of 15 years shall be allowed to work in a household in any capacity. But it is not surprising that labor laws and child protection laws are being flouted with such impunity as most domestic workers are unregistered and lack any official contracts, he said.

Syed Miqdad Ahmed, advocate and child rights activist, said majority of domestic workers are underage child workers, trafficked from rural areas to big cities.

Unfortunately, besides labor exploitation, they are maltreated, humiliated, tortured and even sexually abused and murdered. Countless cases remain unreported. Among few reasons behind the unreported violence are; the lack of labor inspection, influential background of employers and the solitary nature of the Domestic Work, he added.

Aima Mahmood, member governing body PESSI demanded of the govt to raise awareness among communities of the fact that child labor in domestic work is illegal. She said this is absolute failure of the state to leave children at the mercy of the callous employers who least bother to respect the law, exploit child domestic labor and treat them as slaves.

One wonders why so many children of school-going age are doing as domestic help. Where is their constitutional right to an education? It is pertinent to mention that International Labor Organisation (ILO) has defined domestic work as the form of modern slavery and elimination of modern slavery by 2030 is part of Goal 8 (Target 8.7) of the Sustainable Development Goals of which Pakistan is a party, she added.

Rehana Afzal Director Punjab Social Protection Authority urged the need for skill-based training of domestic workers and provision CNICs for all the domestic workers.

The domestic work should be acknowledged as profession in the socio-economic govt survey, she said adding that there should be a dash board where workers and employers could register themselves, she said.

Rubina Jameel labor leader Pakistan Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019 envisages provisions for protecting the rights of the domestic workers, regulating their terms of employment, working conditions of service, provision of social protection and welfare.

However, unfortunately the rights of domestic workers are continuously violated. It is common for them to face exploitation and workplace abuses like; torture, physical violence, harassment and even heinous crimes like; murder and rape, she said.

Muhammad Junaid Riaz, Assistant Director Child Protection & Welfare Bureau, called for large-scale awareness campaign is need of the hour to sensitise the public against the child labor. He asked the participant that to avail the CP&WB help line 1121 in case of complaint related to violence against children.

Saqlain Abbas, Assistant director Labor Department, said that his department has initiated a provincial level campaign to collect data of domestic workers employers Domestic Workers leaders including; Shahnaz Ajmal, President Women Domestic Workers Union-Punjab, Parveen Latif Ansari of Parkash domestic workers union Faisalabad, Shabana Naz from Lyallpur DW union, Nagina from Sitara domestic workers union Toba Tek Singh and Zarina Akhtar United Domestic Workers Union Kasur emphasized the govt to issue social security cards, implement DWs law and minimum wage. They urged the govt to take strict action against the perpetrators of violence against DWs and make all out efforts to save the life of the poor victim.