Indian Journal of Economics and Development

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Socio-Economic Problems of Women Domestic Labourers in Karnataka, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Research, Gandhigram Rural Institute-DU Gandhigram, Dindigul, TN, India
 

Background: Poverty and unemployment are the factors which have created a way for the women to enter into the informal sector. Due to the lack of alternatives the women from lower socio-economic background having low level of education and illiteracy, are forced to work as domestic labourers. It is noticed that the women's participation in the unorganized sector is increasing day by day especially in the domestic work. According to census report 2011, 41.3 lakhs were domestic labourers in India in which women were 27.9 lakhs. These women domestic labourers are from the marginalised section of the society and are migrants from rural area. These women are exploited by their employers, as the placement agencies are yet to find out strategies for the protection of these women. Lack of proper legislations and legal support has put these women domestic labourers into still more vulnerable condition. Even though the women domestic labourers work for more hours, they are paid very less. It affects their personal and social life.

Objectives: The main objectives of the study are to understand the socio-economic problems of the migrant women domestic labourers in Karnataka; to study the reasons for migration and selecting domestic work as their occupation and to offer suggestions and recommendations for the wellbeing of these domestic workers.

Methods/Statistical analysis: This study was based on the both primary and secondary data from different sources and field. It has attempted to search and to bring out new prospects in the life of the migrant women domestic labourers in Karnataka. The basic statistical techniques were used to analyse the research data.

Findings: women domestic labourers were vulnerable in the unorganized sector. The study showed that the women domestic workers are from low socio-economic background and their formal education level was low. More than half of women domestic labourers were married, they sated that they were less respected in the society this affects their self-confidence and their overall development.

Application/Improvements: In Karnataka very few studies were conducted that is the reason the problems of women domestic labourer were not addressed. The legislations and programmes for this group also very less so through this study the researcher has tried to bring some realities related to women domestic labourers this will helps to bring some new alternatives for the betterment of them.


Keywords

Rural Women, Domestic Worker, Migration, Labourers, Socio-Economic Problems.
User
Notifications

  • ILO: Domestic Workers across the World: Global and Regional Statistics and the Extent of Legal Protection, International Labour Organisation, Geneva. http://www. ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_20 0962/lang--en/index.htm. Date accessed: 28/01/2016.

  • Karen Coalho, T Venkat, R Chandrika. Study of Paid Domestic Workers from a Resettlement Colony in Chennai, Economic & Political Weekly, 2013; 48(43), 39-46.

  • K. John. Domestic Women Workers in Urban Informal Sector. Abhinav National Monthly refereed Journal of Research in Arts & Education. 2010; 14(2), 25-36.

  • Madhumathi M., 2013, Migration For Domestic Work-A Case Of Female Domestic Workers In Bangalore, International Journal of Social Science & Interdisciplinary Research, 2013; 2(1), 44-61.

  • Kamala Sankaran. Domestic Work, Unpaid Work and Wage Rates, Economic & Political Weekly, 2013; 48(43), 85-89.

  • Neetha N. Minimum Wage of Domestic Workers: Mirroring Devalued Housework. Economic and Political Weekly. 2013; 48(43), 77-84.

  • Issues faced by Domestic Workers: Organizing strategies used by Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), A pare presentation on the regional conference on Domestic Workers Asian Domestic Workers Network and Committee of Asian Women on 26-27th August 2008, Bangkok.

  • Amit Kundu, Conditions of Work and Rights of Female Domestic Workers of Kolkata, The Indian Journal of Labour Economics. 2007; 50(4), 853-866.

  • Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing-WIEGO, 2011http://wiego.org/informal_economy_law/domestic-workers-india. Date accessed: 28/01/2016.

  • Decent Work For Domestic Workers, Report by BMS 2012 http://bms.org.in/encyc/2012/7/23/decentworkfordomesticworkers,reportbybms.aspx?fb_comment_id=101 51057708312487_288588. Date accessed: 6/02/2016.

  • M Medina-Ramon, et al, Asthma symptoms in women employed in domestic cleaning: a community based study- http://thorax.bmj.com/2003. Date accessed: 23/03/2016.


Abstract Views: 238

PDF Views: 368




  • Socio-Economic Problems of Women Domestic Labourers in Karnataka, India

Abstract Views: 238  |  PDF Views: 368

Authors

Bhagyashree S. Vadageri
Department of Applied Research, Gandhigram Rural Institute-DU Gandhigram, Dindigul, TN, India
M. Hilaria Soundari
Department of Applied Research, Gandhigram Rural Institute-DU Gandhigram, Dindigul, TN, India

Abstract


Background: Poverty and unemployment are the factors which have created a way for the women to enter into the informal sector. Due to the lack of alternatives the women from lower socio-economic background having low level of education and illiteracy, are forced to work as domestic labourers. It is noticed that the women's participation in the unorganized sector is increasing day by day especially in the domestic work. According to census report 2011, 41.3 lakhs were domestic labourers in India in which women were 27.9 lakhs. These women domestic labourers are from the marginalised section of the society and are migrants from rural area. These women are exploited by their employers, as the placement agencies are yet to find out strategies for the protection of these women. Lack of proper legislations and legal support has put these women domestic labourers into still more vulnerable condition. Even though the women domestic labourers work for more hours, they are paid very less. It affects their personal and social life.

Objectives: The main objectives of the study are to understand the socio-economic problems of the migrant women domestic labourers in Karnataka; to study the reasons for migration and selecting domestic work as their occupation and to offer suggestions and recommendations for the wellbeing of these domestic workers.

Methods/Statistical analysis: This study was based on the both primary and secondary data from different sources and field. It has attempted to search and to bring out new prospects in the life of the migrant women domestic labourers in Karnataka. The basic statistical techniques were used to analyse the research data.

Findings: women domestic labourers were vulnerable in the unorganized sector. The study showed that the women domestic workers are from low socio-economic background and their formal education level was low. More than half of women domestic labourers were married, they sated that they were less respected in the society this affects their self-confidence and their overall development.

Application/Improvements: In Karnataka very few studies were conducted that is the reason the problems of women domestic labourer were not addressed. The legislations and programmes for this group also very less so through this study the researcher has tried to bring some realities related to women domestic labourers this will helps to bring some new alternatives for the betterment of them.


Keywords


Rural Women, Domestic Worker, Migration, Labourers, Socio-Economic Problems.

References