Nagaland’s domestic workers: muzzled agony

Nagaland, India – Covid-19 pandemic has whipped nations’ economy and struck a havoc on livelihoods. Some professions are at the worst receiving end than others. Domestic workers have always been the silent bearers of discrimination and abuse, and pandemic has just severed any remaining gap. Dimapur, a city in Nagaland of India, has domestic workers who have been suffering in silence during pandemic and even before that, mostly women. The misery of these workers was reiterated by programme observing “World Day for Decent Work” which was organized by National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) of region of Nagaland.

Domestic workers from Dimapur said, “We work like we are being given punishment but are not paid honestly according to our work or sometimes not even paid at all.” Low wages and sometimes withholding the wages are the most common forms of abuse the domestic workers of Dimapur have to endure. Pandemic has also led to termination of their employment. A domestic worker in Dimapur shares her agony – before pandemic she worked at three houses but post pandemic two employers terminated her work while the third asked her to do outside work like cleaning the garden. After a month she was asked to stop and paid Rs 1000.

Related Posts

Workers are seeking other opportunities now. A worker asked if any programme offers domestic workers with health insurance among other benefits. These workers are anguished that their plight is being unheard by the government. A woman said that it is time their work should be stopped seen as small. She said, “We do all kinds of work but we are paid only around INR1500-2000 or INR 3000 at the most.” There are about 2050 registered domestic workers in Dimapur area alone, including migrants and local workers, said Sr. Pramila Lobo UFS, Coordinator of NDWM. She said it has been 10 years to adoption of domestic workers convention, but still “there is a lot more to do and the central, state, local government, employers, and the general public need a serious reality check for the welfare of the domestic workers.” She stressed further on the demands of these workers – minimum wages, protection against all types of harassment, social security and access to other benefits, and contracts being provided to them by the employers.

Ayswarya Murthy

Ayswarya Murthy is a political journalist. She came to writing through an interest in politics.

Recent Posts

VA Extends Research Grants by 90 Days Over Trump Administration Cuts

The Department of Veterans Affairs extended research assistance for 90 days to temporary researchers whose medical studies suffered from government…

March 17, 2025

Meta Employee Fired Just Before Bonus Payout for reason here why

Meta employee states he was sacked just a day before receiving performance bonuses for sharing a public company update with…

March 17, 2025

Trump’s Administration Continues Deportations of Venezuelan Migrants Against Court Order

This is an action by the administration of the new President Donald Trump whereby it deported over 250 Venezuelan migrants…

March 17, 2025

Citigroup Cuts IT Contractor Workforce by 30% in Strategic Shift

Citigroup plans to cut 30% of its IT contract workers to improve internal security and business performance. The company currently…

March 17, 2025

India, ILO Discuss Fair Wages, Gig Workers’ Welfare in Geneva

India joined talks at International Labour Organisation offices in Geneva to explore worker rights such as proper compensation and basic…

March 15, 2025

Court Rules Against Trump-Era Firings: Tens of Thousands of Workers to Be Reinstated

In a significant legal blow against the Trump administration, federal court judges in California and Maryland have commended the reinstatement…

March 15, 2025

This website uses cookies.

Read More