Does your kamwaali’s pay package include gratuity?

SEPTEMBER 28:Your bai may not turn up for work on Tuesday. And worse, on Wednesday she is likely to demand that you rework her wage package...

SEPTEMBER 28:Your bai may not turn up for work on Tuesday. And worse, on Wednesday she is likely to demand that you rework her wage package to include gratuity and bonus!

Members of Gharelu Kamgar Sangh (domestic workers union) affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) are taking out a morcha to Mantralaya on Tuesday to press for their various demands – their first step towards what they describe as a `recognised body’. Gharelu Kamgar Sangh is the first and the only organisation of its kind. Established in 1962, it reaches out to domestic servants across the city and beyond.

The morcha will also represent members of various other worker groups from the unorganised sector – bidi workers, hawkers, casual industry workers and construction labourers. Anant Karambalekar, BMS president, told Express Newsline that their demands included higher wages, gratuity and bonus, establishment of a welfare board and entitlement to weekly and yearly holidays.

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However, very few houses in Mumbai will suffer because of this strike. For, by Karambalekar’s own admission only 6,000 domestic servants, of over 2 lakh in Mumbai, are members of the Sangh. Also, only a few of these 6,000 can actually afford to forego a day’s pay packet to take part in the morcha. “A lot needs to be done for them,” Karambalekar said.

He added that although the Sangh’s efforts have paid off, domestic workers continue to work under pathetic conditions. “Since there is no one to take up their demands, they continue working for paltry sums…they are not even aware of their rights,” he said.

But Karambalekar is hopeful. “It’s a major social problem…but as awareness about our Sangh increases, we will tackle each problem separately.

"Some employers do call us up and seek advice on matters like gratuity and other benefits for their servants. But, such cases are rare,” he said.

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So, next time you hire the services of a bai make sure you give her all employment benefits. It would help if you tried to find out a little about her union affiliations too.