This post, to an extent, is related to the one I had written earlier but I decided to mention it separately as the earlier one had got a bit longer and I didn’t want anyone to lose interest midway! I am sure all housewives are witnessing this unofficial alliance of domestic servants (kamwali bai as they are popularly known). Recently one of my neighbor’s servant had not come for 8 days without giving any prior notice. So finally when she came she was scolded by my neighbor and asked to leave. But when she started looking for another servant she wasn’t able to find one or let’s just say that nobody was ready to take up the job giving reasons like “time nai hai” so my neighbor was left with no choice but to call her back. There is no point hinting at some union here because we all know it exists though they may not admit it openly.
Let me also say that housewives are also to blame for this situation as servants have suffered a lot in the past. We know how they have been asked to do extra work apart from their regular work without being paid for it and their salaries are cut when they don’t come to work which is not fair as even they deserve some paid leaves! People who work in the organized sector get a certain number of leaves (read paid leaves) every year but they don’t think twice before cutting their domestic servant’s salary. Even domestic servants deserve all the employment benefits but they don’t get them as they are not into organized sector. So it’s nice to see them form a union of sorts to fight for their rights. Nowadays, their rights include paid leaves, Diwali bonus etc.!! But with rights come responsibilities and there should be a way to make sure that they exercise all their duties with diligence. So one solution that we can have is this: Recognize their union as official, select one of them as their representative and have a system in place where housewives are assured of the daily services by making sure that when servant is not able to come due to some unforeseen circumstances then somebody else substitutes on her behalf so that housewives' interests are taken care of. Also have consensus on number of days that can be taken as leave and also the hike that may be given every year or a couple of years so that servant doesn’t ask for unnecessary hikes anytime. With a system like this in place everyone will benefit.
Let me also say that housewives are also to blame for this situation as servants have suffered a lot in the past. We know how they have been asked to do extra work apart from their regular work without being paid for it and their salaries are cut when they don’t come to work which is not fair as even they deserve some paid leaves! People who work in the organized sector get a certain number of leaves (read paid leaves) every year but they don’t think twice before cutting their domestic servant’s salary. Even domestic servants deserve all the employment benefits but they don’t get them as they are not into organized sector. So it’s nice to see them form a union of sorts to fight for their rights. Nowadays, their rights include paid leaves, Diwali bonus etc.!! But with rights come responsibilities and there should be a way to make sure that they exercise all their duties with diligence. So one solution that we can have is this: Recognize their union as official, select one of them as their representative and have a system in place where housewives are assured of the daily services by making sure that when servant is not able to come due to some unforeseen circumstances then somebody else substitutes on her behalf so that housewives' interests are taken care of. Also have consensus on number of days that can be taken as leave and also the hike that may be given every year or a couple of years so that servant doesn’t ask for unnecessary hikes anytime. With a system like this in place everyone will benefit.
My dear friend putting ur so called "System" in place is too difficult..and forming an union will make this issue "Political", which i believe is not in the interest of both the parties...by the way nice topic.
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