Domestic workers in Shillong take out a rally against harassment. File picture

Shillong, Dec. 17: The Northeast Regional Domestic Workers Movement, a rights group, has demanded the inclusion of domestic workers under the purview of Prohibition of Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place Bill, 2010.

The bill was tabled on December 7 during the winter session of Parliament.

Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew, the programme co-coordinator of the movement, today said there were many cases of sexual harassment of workers committed by the employers and their relatives in the Northeast.

There are around 100 cases reported in Meghalaya alone so far, and out of this, five persons, including a post office employee, have been prosecuted, she said.

“In the eyes of law all are equal and the domestic workers should also be treated equally like other women,” she said

Kharsyntiew said in the revised draft bill regarding sexual harassment in work places, prepared in January this year, domestic workers were included, but in the final draft, the clause was omitted.

She said a memorandum stressing the need to include domestic workers in the bill, would be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and also to the National Commission for Women.

According to Kharsyntiew, there are more than 4,000 registered domestic workers in Shillong alone.

The number of domestic workers in the whole region will be around 20,000.

They are also a neglected lot since they have to survive on a meagre salary.

Earlier, the domestic workers had organised protest marches against the harassment by employers in work places.

In 2008, at least 22 organisations from all over the state, under the banner of Campaign for Enhancement of Daily Wages, had taken out a procession and held a public meeting in Shillong demanding hike in the minimum wages.

This had compelled the Meghalaya government to announce revised pay for them.