Around 96 per cent of the house helps surveyed in a study cannot fulfil their basic needs with the scanty monthly wages they receive, reveals a study report unveiled on Sunday.
The report also said a domestic worker gets monthly wage of Tk 5,311 on an average whereas their monthly expenditure is Tk10,801 on an average.
The findings of the report titled "Decent work and intersections with gender based violence: A study on Domestic Workers in Bangladesh" were unveiled at a programme organised by Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) at the National Press Club on Sunday.
The survey was conducted with the support of Global Affairs Canada and Oxfam in Bangladesh.
BILS joint general secretary Dr Wazedul Islam Khan presided over the event while Consultant at The World Bank (WB) ABM Khorshed Alam and Director at the Department of Labour Bellal Hossain Seikh attended it among others.
The survey found that women opt for this profession mostly due to unavailability of alternative jobs, poverty and desertion by their husband.
Nearly 42 per cent women have to sleep in open space of a house's living room or kitchen while 75 per cent of the part timers dwell in slums. One in every four maids face salary cut upon missing their duties, the report said adding that in-house workers have to work for 10 to 14 hours in a day.
Amid violation of their rights in different ways, 99 per cent workers and 66 per cent employers have no knowledge on the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015, the report found.
Even 91 per cent workers do not know about any hotline or helpline number to seek support in case of facing gender-based violence.
The report also said gender-based violence increased significantly during the Covid-19 period, when many workers were sacked.
The report presented a 12-point recommendation including recognition of domestic service as 'work' in the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
Availability of an active system of registration and monitoring of all the individuals involved in domestic works is immediately required, it suggested.
To ensure all the benefits, including working hours, rest, recreation, home-visits, salary and standard leave of all domestic workers, the legal framework needs to be strengthened, the report recommended adding that the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work should be established.
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