Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, was Chief Guest at the function ‘Gharelu Kamgar Mahotsav’ celebrated on the occasion of ‘International Domestic Workers Day’ organized by Domestic Workers’ Forum in association with various Unions, NGOs, etc at Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, INA Colony, New Delhi on 16.06.2013. 

Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member congratulated the organizers for celebrating this special day for the second time and said there was a need to strengthen the demand of domestic workers as decent work. She also released a poster against exploitation of domestic workers on this occasion. 

Last year on 16 June at the 100th International Labour Conference, Geneva, the International Labour Organization adopted Convention 189 (C189) that talks about ‘Decent Work for Domestic Workers’. It is for the first time in the history, that the Domestic Workers and their works are recognized. The C189 recognizes the need for a reinvention of the way our societies view domestic works. 

The Member added that these women look after our houses and our families yet they are denied their basic human rights like proper wages, maternity leave, social security protection etc. They are made to work long hours and late night without proportionate compensation. There is a need to make the workers aware of their rights and ensure equal opportunities. 

Dr. Charu WaliKhanna said that most of the domestic workers comprise women who migrate for work hence it is important to recognize the rights of domestic workers in order to make meaningful improvement in their lives and to raise the consensus for social change. She reaffirmed that domestic work is work, domestic workers are workers, and domestic work is not slavery. 

Ms. Sunita Eluri of ILO, Mr. Tanveer Kazi of Action Aid, Mr. Robin Hibu, Jt. Commissioner, Delhi Police, Ms. Shimray of Caritas India were among speakers.

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