Time to Stop Seeing Domestic Workers as Covid-19 ‘Carriers’

Covid-19 crisis brings a great impact on the lives of millions of marginalised unorganised workers and among that one section is often left out of the discourse (even when talking about the informal sector) is that of domestic workers whom we always neglect and take for granted. Their work is often low paid, insecure and invisible. The irony is that in domestic work sector large number of working class is women or young girls , and in India we consider and bypass expressing, seeing or telling that domestic work like sweeping, cleaning, cooking, taking care of the children or elderly, washing, mobbing is the work of lady or a young girl. Because of this issue we ignore their struggles, pains and they have to manage two houses the home of theirs and the house of their employer.

In India, women are inevitably involved in some kind of productive or reproductive work but much of their work is invisible and they are largely employed in low skilled, low paid informal sectors with little or no social security. The invisible and uncountable workforce is domestic workers.

They are not brought under any labour rights. As we see now they have become more vulnerable than before. As domestic workers gradually re-enter the lives of the middle and upper classes, it is a moment for reflection on the conversation around the work of care, domestic work and class privilege that was amplified during the lockdown period. While the virus and pandemic remain a threat to us all, it has also exposed the fault-lines in our society very starkly. Class, gender, and privilege have shaped how each ones experiences the pandemic.

We foresee a long journey towards the crisis recovery and feel legal protection for domestic workers. We see the need for an alternative economic and livelihood initiatives that can secure domestic workers income and livelihood. So that they are something in the times of crisis. The main problem for the economic crisis for the domestic workers is that many have lost their jobs which is the only source of livelihood. Their pay is withheld, some delayed, no work, large family, their spouse is daily wage earners, mental trauma, increased domestic violence and some even face sexual harassment, no mercy from the house owner forced to pay house rent, sickness, strict village rules during lockdown. Who will bridge the gap? Its only we who are their employers can show little extra sympathy and empathy, don’t tell them that they are the carriers of the Covid-19 virus. Let us have behavioural changes and aspects. Let us give what belongs to them, they are workers in our homes, treat them like workers. Let us remember that our homes are their office, let us be generous enough to give what belongs to them.

We have witnessed the terrible effects on migrant workers and others specially the domestic workers in the informal sector. If we look here in Dimapur many are migrants either within the state or outside the state. They cannot go back to their homes and search some alternative. Constantly being in touch with them either directly or through staff or the group leaders. Their problems increase daily rather than decrease.