Report finds 3% of domestic workers in state faced verbal & physical abuse

Ranchi: Even though domestic workers play an important role in economy and society, they are subjected to exploitation and neglect in Jharkhand, opined speakers from different sections of society during a state-level meet on ‘Status of domestic workers in Jharkhand’, in Ranchi on Monday.
A survey report presented by a Ranchi-based non-government organisation (NGO), SPARK, stated that 70% of domestic workers earn less than Rs 3,000 per month while around 10% had income of over Rs 4,000.
Around 68.6% workers get four days of paid leave in a month, while about 60% of the employers deducted salary of workers for leave beyond the agreement.
More than 50% workers carry their own lunch to their employer’s home but do not use dishes and would eat food sitting on the floor.
The report further stated that one-third of the employers were always angry and disrespectful.
It also said that around 3% of the domestic workers faced verbal and physical abuse.
Notably, the report is based on a survey of 137 women domestic workers in 13 districts between December 2021 and February 2022.
Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Majhi said that patriarchal and feudal thinking of people are causing exploitation of women domestic workers in the state.
“The state government has launched schemes to provide livelihood to the villagers. The NGOs should ensure that the needy people get employment under the projects,” Majhi said.