Employers will be charged if helps are found to be trafficked, say legal experts in Ghaziabad
Officials said that those involved in trafficking often get fake age certificate and documents prepared for the victims.
Residents employing full-time domestic help will also be a part of the conspiracy in case the help is found to be trafficked, said legal experts at a presentation on human trafficking at the district headquarters on Sunday.
The event was organised by Ghaziabad district administration on ‘World Day against Trafficking in Persons’. The audience was apprised about various laws and repercussions pertaining to trafficking, child labour and issues of domestic helps employed in large numbers in residential high-rises.
“If a domestic worker is roped in through placement agencies and later found to be trafficked, the employer will be considered a part of the racket and conspiracy. It is advised that residents get the credentials of full-time domestic helps verified at the earliest by the police. Placement agencies are not recognised by law in UP. The government of India is also coming up with a policy in this regard,” Rishi Kant, of Shakti Vahini NGO, said.
Officials said that those involved in trafficking often get fake age certificate and documents prepared for the victims.
“RWAs should develop a policy for getting the verification done at the earliest and to ensure that children up to the age of 14 are not employed. In case they employ children in age group 14-18 years, there are certain conditions such as time limit, maintenance of register etc. So, it is advisable that residents employ domestic helps who are over 18 years,” said Dharmendra Kumar Singh, deputy labour commissioner, Ghaziabad.
Officials advised RWAs to put up with posters and banners of ‘Dos and Don’ts’ while hiring domestic helps. Officials said that they will soon finalise the content to be put on posters, including guidelines.
“In case a high-rise has no RWA, the builder or the maintenance agency will have to put up the posters. The guidelines will safeguard the interests of domestic helps and residents, more so in the backdrop of violence at Mahagun Moderne in Greater Noida,” Ministhy S, district magistrate, said.
Officials said that they have also proposed to levy the provisions of the Goondas Act and the Gangster Act on those involved in human trafficking. They said that in case of trafficking of children, the consent of their parents would also not be applicable.
Officials have also asked the police and their anti-human trafficking unit to help residents expedite the verification of domestic helps, irrespective of their being full-time or part-time employees.
