The government has made an initiative to finalise the drafts of the Domestic Worker Protection Act and the Domestic Worker Protection and Welfare Policy 2010, three years after the drafts had been prepared.
The labour and employment ministry, that prepared the drafts in association with civil society members and after consulting labour and rights groups, is considering on placing the drafts before the cabinet within a month.
The drafts, however, are likely to be placed before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina next Sunday, when the premier is expected to attend her office at labour ministry in secretariat.
Sheikh Hasina currently looks after the ministry, with Jatiya Party Presidium member Mojibul Haque Chunnu carrying out the responsibilities of state minister.
Officials of the ministry said the drafts of the act and the policy were prepared to protect the domestic workers from physical, mental and sexual harassment, limit their working hours and stop the employment of child workers below the age of 12.
Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar on Thursday told the Dhaka Tribune that some obstacles had long barred the placement of the drafts before the cabinet.
“The drafts would be placed before the premier along with other important issues during her visit to the ministry on February 16. Those would be sent to the cabinet for its approval, if the premier gives her nod,” the secretary added.
According to a study by Unicef and International Labour Organisation, there are around 20 lakh domestic workers in Bangladesh including more than 450,000 child workers. Among them, around 150,000 workers are employed in different households in Dhaka.
“There are different rules and regulations on protection and welfare of domestic workers. There is a regulation on not employing children below 12 years of age. There is also a High Court directive in this regard. We have to work for effective implementation of these regulations,” the secretary said.
Shipar added that the ministry has planned to enact a security policy for the protection of domestic workers, as well as trying to bring them under social protection network and reducing the number of domestic workers.
Domestic Workers Rights Network (DWRN) Coordinator Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said: “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the rights and facilities of the household workers.
“A large number of Bangladeshis are working as domestic workers abroad. Our government will have nothing to say to the employer country if they face injustice, as we are yet to ratify the ILO convention,” he added.
According to ministry sources, the draft of the policy has remained stuck at the Cabinet Division since it was prepared in 2010, while the draft of the act was yet to be sent to the Cabinet Division.
According to the draft policy, the registration of domestic workers would be mandatory, while the registered workers would get the facilities of appointment, identity cards, fixed wages, fixed working hours, leave and resting period, education and training, medical and compensation for any kinds of accidents.
