‘Political will key to protecting domestic workers’

Staff Reporter:

Head of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, Shireen Parveen Haque, has stressed that strong political will is crucial to guarantee fair wages and dignity for domestic workers.

She made the remarks while addressing a shadow parliament on domestic workers’ rights, jointly organized by Debate for Democracy and Gonoshakkhorota Ovijan at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) on Saturday.

Shireen Parveen said the appointment of an independent ombudsman would play a key role in ensuring accountability and protecting the rights of workers in this sector.

She expressed hope that the future government would prioritize the appointment of an ombudsman and the formulation of a legal framework to safeguard domestic workers’ rights.

Bringing domestic workers under a registration system would contribute to their social recognition and the establishment of their rights, she added.

The event was supported by NETZ Bangladesh and Education Out Loud. Debate for Democracy Chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the function.