Domestic servants are among the most exploited sections of the workforce in the country. Most household servants receive very low wages, have absolutely no job security, and are forced to work long hours. They are often abused, both physically and verbally, and have to put up with such harsh treatment because of shrinking employment opportunities. While some domestics get a fair wage for their work and are treated well, they form a relatively small and privileged minority. The vast majority of servants, however, are ruthlessly exploited and mistreated as a matter of course. Women servants are particularly vulnerable. Their wages are generally far lower than that of men, and many have to work long hours for a pittance. Because of unemployment and the high incidence of drug addiction among men, these women are often the sole breadwinners of their families. Their children have to forego schooling to help out their mothers at work, for which they are rarely paid.
Some homes employ very young children as help and only provide them with meals in lieu of wages. It is also common for girls and younger women to be sexually exploited by their employers. Justice for this vulnerable group can only come about if there is a radical change in attitudes within society about the treatment of fellow human beings, the dignity of labour and respect for workers’ rights. Perhaps social welfare organizations could target domestic servants, especially women, and help look after the educational needs of their children so that they can ultimately break free of the vicious cycle of poverty and exploitation.
Well, I wouldnt say we treat them like dirt... Most of the families I know, and based on my own family, yes, we pay about Rs 2,000 per month to them, which may be low, but most of us treat them like a family member. And yes, we also have to give them accomodation, food etc so this is a slight compensation. Most of them usually work till the age of 16-18 and then they head out for other jobs. I wouldnt really go for this article... We had a servent last year who was also an FSc student. We paid for his tuition fee, which wasnt too much, but once I remember I emailed to a mailing list in islamabad to ask for someone who can buy him books and a guy emailed me, and he offerred Rs.500 per month for that servent for his education, so you can see people dont really treat them like trash...
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*Originally posted by Spock: *
Salaam Lahori bhai...
Well, I wouldnt say we treat them like dirt... Most of the families I know, and based on my own family, yes, we pay about Rs 2,000 per month to them, which may be low, but most of us treat them like a family member. And yes, we also have to give them accomodation, food etc so this is a slight compensation. Most of them usually work till the age of 16-18 and then they head out for other jobs. I wouldnt really go for this article... We had a servent last year who was also an FSc student. We paid for his tuition fee, which wasnt too much, but once I remember I emailed to a mailing list in islamabad to ask for someone who can buy him books and a guy emailed me, and he offerred Rs.500 per month for that servent for his education, so you can see people dont really treat them like trash...
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Thank you for writing that spock. I really felt horrible on reading the dawn editorial. It sounded downright inhuman. I know it can be very tough but if we just watch out for each other. One can bear a lot of hardships if one just has the feeling that people around care. According to my father my ancestors came from the servant class. He came over to USA as a cook for a rich family a long long time ago, and I guess he still bears the wounds of being mistreated as a servant. I hope and pray that others in Pakistan look out for the disadvantaged like your family.
good article. there was a thread on this exact topic a week or two ago. maybe the mods can merge this topic into that because it will take that discussion forward on a different level.