Spare thought for domestic workers

With Christmas, the summer holidays and year-end office parties fast approaching, a friendly reminder to factor in your budget a generous bonus for domestic workers and other support staff.

In a country with gross socioeconomic imbalances, inequalities and injustices, sacrifice some luxuries so that your employees also enjoy the festive season with their families and experience some thankfulness and appreciation from you.

Domestic work, a job that is perceived as something outside regular employment, is one of the oldest and most notable livelihoods for thousands of women, not only in South Africa but around the globe. It makes up a large percentage of the workforce who come from less privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Regrettably, many domestic workers remain poorly paid, unappreciated and overworked, yet they provide such valuable assistance to a home. Accounts of ill-treatment and exploitation, especially of live-in and migrant domestic workers, are regularly reported in the media.

Sadly, due to having limited access to quality education, most are unaware of their legal rights. Moreover, the greatest cause of their powerlessness is their isolation in private homes.

We may have “rented” their time but we have not purchased their respect, human rights and a liveable salary. Mohamed Saeed, Maritzburg

Send us your letter We publish letters that come with full name, address and telephone number even if you want to use a pseudonym. letters@citizen.co.za, fax 010-492-5386 or PO Box 43069 Industria 2042