Summary of key issues in accessing schemes

Key issues in Accessing Schemes:

1. No Dedicated Department or Scheme: Domestic workers face a major challenge as there is neither a dedicated department nor a specific scheme designed for their improvement.
2. Informal Sector Worker Classification: Their situation is exacerbated by being categorized as informal sector workers, lacking proper representation and having no established written rules or agreements. Instead, their arrangements primarily rely on verbal understandings.
3. Lack of Fixed Wages and Hours: Furthermore, the absence of fixed wages or standard working hours adds to the difficulties faced by domestic workers, who heavily rely on daily earnings.
4. Local Discontent with Low Wages: Local Kannadiga domestic workers express dissatisfaction with those coming from other places, such as Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Assam. This discontent arises because these workers often accept jobs for very low pay.

5. Transition from Clothing Industry to Domestic Work: Many individuals, previously employed in the clothing industry, transition to domestic work due to challenging working conditions, low pay, high work targets, and harassment, despite having benefits like PF/ESI.

6. Financial Burden of Money Transfers: Workers face an additional financial burden as they have to pay a fee ranging from 5% (using formal methods like money order) to 10% (utilizing informal methods like agents) for money transfers.
   

7. Influx of Migration for Employment Opportunities: Over the last 5-6 years, there has been a substantial influx of individuals from Chhattisgarh (CG) and Jharkhand (JH) to this region, driven by the promise of employment opportunities.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in addressing these challenges by supporting domestic workers in coming together through collectives. This collaborative approach enables them to collectively address and overcome their shared concerns, with active involvement and guidance from CSOs.

1. Fedina and Mitr Sanketa are actively addressing various challenges faced by domestic workers by fostering unity among them and providing education on demanding higher pay. Their goal is to increase the workers' earnings from the current range of Rs 800-1,000 to Rs 3,000 for each hour of work, ultimately enhancing their monthly earnings.