Trade unions and civil society representatives called for end of violence against domestic workers, exemplary punishment for torturers, legal protections, proper treatment of victims and appropriate compensation. Speaker’s demanded these at a human chain organised by Domestic Workers’ Rights Network (DWRN) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies-BILS on November 21, 2020, in front of National Press Club in the capital.

DWRN Acting Coordinator Abul Hossain led the human chain, while National Domestic Women Workers Union leader Musrhida Akhter Nahar, Jatiya Sramik League leader Promila Podder, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leader Lutfannahar Lata, Jatiya Sramik Federation leader Arifa Akter, Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Federation leader Salma Akter, Jatiya Sramik Jote leader Hena Chowdhury, Jatiya Sramik Jote Bangladesh leader Mosammat Juy, Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress leader Iffat Ara Sheli spoke on this occasion. Domestic Workers Rights Network affiliated organisations repreentatives, BILS and SKOP affiliated trade union federation leaders were present at the human chain.

Speakers at the human chain said that domestic workers in the country and abroad are constantly working hard. Despite having such a large number of domestic workers, they are not covered by the labour law, nor are Bangladesh on the list of states ratifying ILO Convention-189. As a result, they are being deprived of legal aid at workplace; on the other hand, it is not possible for the country to play any role in any crisis outside the country. They said that thousands of domestic workers at home and abroad are going through a miserable time today who are being tortured and killed at different times. They demanded an end of the ongoing violence and trafficking against all these domestic workers, exemplary punishment of the torturers and proper treatment and appropriate compensation for the victims.

Speakers from the human chain demand endorsed ILO Convention-179; implementation of “Domestic Worker Protection and Welfare Policy 2015” to protect the safety of domestic workers across the country; to include domestic workers in labour laws; to ensure safety and secured migration for all domestic workers; to provide fair compensation to the families of workers killed in torture and to injured workers; medical expenses of injured workers to be accepted by the employer; the families of the victim workers and the injured workers demanded permanent rehabilitation.