BILS, with the support of Oxfam Bangladesh organised Domestic Workers Conference-2018 on June 30, 2018 at National Press Club Conference Lounge.

Prominent Human Rights Leader and Former Advisor of Care Taker Government Advocate Sultana Kamal were present as chief guest in the conference while human rights Leader Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Jatiya Sramik League President Alhaj Sukkur Mahamud, BILS Advisory Council Member Shah Mohd. Abu Zafar, Joint Secretary General Dr. Wajedul Islam Khan, Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed, Sramik Karmochari Oikya Parishad-SKOP Joint Coordinator Naimul Ahsan Jewel, Jatiya Garhastha Nari Sramik Union Advisor Abul Hossain were present among others. Besides, Leaders of Domestic Workers Rights Network-DWRN affiliated human rights organisations and national based Trade Union Federations, professional organisations and Leaders and domestic workers representatives involved with organising domestic workers of 19 areas in Dhaka city were present in the conference.

Speakers in the conference said that domestic workers right is a human right, but this right is being violated at present in everywhere. The level of torture on domestic workers is increasing which occurring all brutal killing. Government has already declared ‘Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy-2015’. In this case, it is necessary to bring the policy under Labour Law-2006 for protesting torture on domestic workers and ensuring their human dignity, they mentioned. Besides, they urged to government for ratifying ILO Convention 189 regarding decent work for domestic workers. In the conference they demanded to ensure domestic workers protection and welfare as well as to establish their allover dignity, to stop torture and any kind of violence and to ensure fair wage, compensation and decent work through the implementation of ‘Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy-2015’. Keeping in mind the dignity of domestic workers, the speakers urged not to address them as ‘Bua’.

Addressing Dr. Wajedul Islam Khan as Coordinator, National Domestic Workers Coordination Council was formed with 23 members.