THE BEHAVIOUR OF DOMESTIC WORKERS /HOUSE HELP IN PAKISTAN
In Pakistan, numerous acts and bills have been passed to protect domestic workers. Notable among these are the Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019 and the pending Domestic Worker Bill 2021 in the National Assembly. These laws aim to regulate employment, working hours, wages, leaves, and other benefits for domestic workers. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are about 8.5 million domestic workers in Pakistan, with the majority being women and young girls. However, due to the unregistered nature of this work and the lack of written contracts, the actual number may be higher. The Unseen Backbone of Households Domestic workers, predominantly women, play a crucial role in many households by performing tasks such as cleaning, washing clothes, dishes, and looking after children or the elderly. Despite their importance, this is often the...