Church protests exclusion of domestic workers in Sexual Harassment Bill

The draft bill, which was introduced in the Parliament recently, ensures protection of women against sexual harassment at workplaces, be it public, private or unorganised.

The bill however does not include domestic workers who are routinely harassed and exploited by their employers.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India has condemned the exclusion and is making efforts for a comprehensive legislation that protect women working at households.

According to the National Sample Survey Organization, there is an estimated 4.75 million domestic workers employed in private households.

Nearly 90% of domestic workers are women, girls or children, ranging from ages 12 to 75 and it is estimated that 25% are below the age of 14.

"The objective of the proposed bill is self-defeating as it does not cater to the concerns of large number of women who are employed as domestic workers," said Fr Jose Vattakuzhy, secretary of the CBCI Commission for Labour.

"The Commission has sought the authorities to end this discrimination by bringing women employed as domestic workers within the purview of the proposed bill," he added.

As part of the national campaign, the Delhi Archdiocese's Domestic Workers' Forum on Nov. 25 organized a protest rally at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.

Placement agencies are exploiting young girls coming from villages by promising high wages. To save women from such fraudsters, inclusion in the bill is necessary, said Sister Leona Navchand, legal consultant of the Domestic Workers' Forum.