Extend protection of Act to domestic workers too
Demanding the inclusion of domestic workers in protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010, passed by the Parliament in the Winter Session, activists from the Maharashtra Domestic Workers Movement have collected about 10 lakh signatures from across the country with a view to present it to President Pratibha Patil and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Cristy Mary, coordinator of the National Domestic Workers Movement, said about three cases of sexual harassment are registered by female domestic workers with their organisation on a weekly basis.
We have asked for the inclusion of domestic workers in the Act because they are the most vulnerable section of women falling prey to sexual harassment at their work place. Moreover, most of these cases go unnoticed because these women do not dare inform the police about it because the owner then blames her of theft out of vengeance. We have presented our memoranda to various MPs and also written a letter to Sonia Gandhi, said Mary.
We want the government to change its stand on the issue. The National Advisory Council has already appointed a working committee. At present, we are seeking a meeting with Sonia Gandhi and Pratibha Patil so that we can show them the massive public support that we have managed to garner on this issue, said Mary.
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/extend-protection-of-act-to-domestic-workers-too/766415/