Violation of domestic workers rights in Covid-19 era

THE Covid-19 has brought on the debate about violation of rights to the forefront, more specifically the issue of free movement or mobility per say. However, in all the debates there is hardly a specific mention of the ongoing violation of both human and civil rights of those who render one of the most important services, that is domestic service.

Without the services of these mostly overlooked men and women, most households will not function properly, needless to say employers at household level will be overwhelmed with everyday household operations.

However, the domestic service industry is dominated by women due to the fact that household chores have always been a preserve for women via socialisation.

A snap survey on some social media platforms that are acting as agencies for domestic workers in South Africa and Zimbabwe to secure better employment shows that most complain of not having off days since the March lockdown in both countries.

Some have accused their employers of not according them their stipulated off days or annual leave as they (employers) cite fears that the workers when returning from m their weekend off will bring Covid19 into their homes. However, this group of employees is in return n accusing their eir employers ers of going out whenever they feel like, visiting friends and family and sometimes bringing guests into the home and in return putting them at risk of the infection.

These domestic workers are overworked, sometimes into the night way beyond working hours without being paid overtime, a clear violation of their rights. The Covid-19 has made the situation worse as domestic workers have found themselves stuck in their employers’ houses with some not allowed to visit shops to buy sanitary and other hygiene products of their choice. Domestic workers are adult men and women who also have other physical needs that must be met outside the vicinity of their employers as they are not allowed to bring in guests. It means the helpers are working every day with no resting time which is detrimental to their mental and physical wellbeing in the long term.

It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought on an added vulnerability to most who are already treated as less human beings. Their socio-economic status has always put them at the receiving end, with most employer ers underpaying them, not providing enough food for th those who offer live in services and also not providing good general working conditions.

Domestic workers are men and women who are fending for their families just like other employees of any other service industry.

Employers must note that this particular group of people have rights too and violating these rights is tantamount to modern day slavery and this must be condemned.

There is evidence of a clear violation of some of the basic human rights i.e. the right to privacy, the right to equality and freedom from discrimination, freedom of belief and religion.

Added to that, such working conditions provided by employers are a direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United and Nations such as no slavery which says no one shall be held in slavery or servitude, right to free choice of employment with just and favourable conditions and the right to rest which states that everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Failure to observe these rights accordingly also goes against our national labour laws and the supreme law of the land which is the Zimbabwe Constitution of 2013.

◆ The writer is a gender specialist from Women’s University in Africa and writes in her personal capacity.