Domestic workers are essential to the society and nation at large. They accomplish works at home. Thus, they enable employers have enough time to think about their business outside home. They are important for the economic growth of the country.They play great role in the economic growth of a given country.
Domestic workers are responsible for all house hold chores such as cooking, cleaning, ironing, babysitting, caring and gardening. Thus, they usually are overloaded with tasks. Contrary to their important and engaging job, research findings show that domestic workers face a lot of violation of their rights. There are occasions whereby they serve with little or no pay. The workers are vulnerable to psychological or physical damages as well. Thus, establishment of domestic workers union is significant in the fight for their right.
As per domestic workers convention 189 by International Labor Organization(ILO), domestic workers are entitled to rights such as having job contract, getting paid according the wage set by the government, getting rest time, accessing pension from the social security funds, getting health and safety benefits, and getting sick leave.
Ethiopian Trade Union Confederation President, Kassahun Follo, told The Ethiopian Herald that the domestic workers in Ethiopia need to be given the rights stated by the convention. Thus, the confederation is accomplishing the pre-requirements needed to ratify the convention. The confederation is lobbying the government to ratify it.
Kassahun said the confederation had been working in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to solve problems that face the domestic and Ethiopians in other countries. Thus, the confederation is working hand in hand with the ministry towards ratification of convention 189.
As to Kassahun, if the convention is ratified, the workers are allowed to establish domestic workers union which could fight on behalf of the workers. It works to ensure the safety and comfort of the workers. Thus, the association plays a significant role in assuring their right.
The President told that the workers are being abused in many cases. The research conducted by the confederation depicts that many workers are being abused in the country. The workers are denied the rights given to them by the convention. This is hurting the life of the workers.
Some of the workers are family holders. They are working to family life. The workers have children to look after. Some might be breastfeeding. Others leave sick people at home. Some others work under poor safety condition. And thus, need to be given rest time.
He added that the confederation was successful in forming associations in the Amhara Regional State and Addis Ababa. And it is now working to establish an association at a national level. However, ratification of the ILO’s convention is the pre-requirement. After that the confederation will establish domestic workers union.
Ratifying convention 189 has multitudes of significances to the workers. They can ask for their right or accuse their owners in case they are abused. Thus, the confederation is working on the process of presenting the issue to the government for ratification, as to the president,
The confederation has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Lebanon Workers Association, confederation. Thus, it was successful in forming Ethiopian workers committee within the confederation. The committee is working to free Ethiopian workers who were jailed and put in custody.
Ketema Mekonnen, Board member of Mulu Tesfa Domestic Workers’ Association, told The Ethiopian Herald that various cases were uncovered while working with maids. The workers are abused by their employers. Some of them work the whole day without break. And others were injured physically by their owners.
Ketema added that the association has been counseling the workers on how to deal with their employers. It has been solving a lot of cases that had happened to the workers. Many workers have gained their rights by the help of the association, she said.
She cited that once a worker who had been unpaid for 2 years was found. The maid does not know what to do. However, the association investigated the problem and was successful in solving the problem, as to her.
The Ethiopian Herald October 19, 2019
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
