Even after four years of adopting, the domestic worker security and benefit policy could not be made into a law.
Human rights workers say that lack of justice in the mistreatment of domestic workers, irregular payment of salary, failure to establish minimum rights also contribute to the harassment of house masters and mistresses.
As per Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, 50 percent housemaids face domestic torture; of them, 60 percent are children. In 2014, high court ordered Bangladesh government to take steps to secure the rights of domestic workers.
With a provision for 16 week maternity leave, a policy was approved by the cabinet. The policy suggested help lines for domestic workers, regulated work hours and a ban on employing anyone below 14.
The President of the Bangladesh Women Journalists’ Centre, Nasimun Ara Huq Minu, said: “Once there is law, the government can be pressured to enforce it.”
Additional secretary (labour subsection) Rezaul Huq, says: “This law is still under discussion and rights of the domestic worker need to be recognised.”
Director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, Syed Sultan Uddin, said: “It’s challenging to change the situation because of the negative collective attitude we have towards domestic workers.”