Gurgaon: Domestic helps in Sector 70/71 demand higher wages, better facilities

Domestic helps are demanding higher wages, better working conditions, safety, security and weekly offs. They are also demanding that salaries should be given in the first week of the month.

Domestic helps working in residential societies of sectors 70 and 71 called off their plan to protest for higher wages and better facilities after residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) invited them for negotiations.

Helps outside residential complexes.

Domestic helps are demanding higher wages, better working conditions, safety, security and weekly offs. They are also demanding that salaries should be given in the first week of the month.

Members of the Gharelu Kamgar Union, a workers’ body, urged to helps to demand the salary for days on which the employer gives them an off, while they are on vacation, sources said.

Lalmuni Devi, a domestic help who works in Sector 71 said, “Our demands are not unfair. If our employer goes on leave, we should be paid for those days. Why should we suffer a loss when we do not get only two leaves a month?”

The union had planned to strike for three days from August 6 but residents had managed to convince the domestic helps against such a move.

“Parties with vested interests are trying to misguide the domestic helps. We have told them we will not increase the wages as we are already looking after their welfare and emergencies. It is disheartening that despite treating helps like family members they are going against us,” said Reeta Sharma of Tulip Ivory RWA said.

“We have told our domestic helps that when they need any financial help in case of medical emergencies, we are the ones who support them. I don’t understand why they are scared to ask us and are being influenced by others,” said Ajay Sharma of Tulip Ivory said.

RWA members said that residents have also decided to get medical insurance for the domestic helps.

“We are already paying higher wages to our domestic helps, in comparison to other condominiums,” said Nimish Kumar of Tulip Purple RWA.

Residents said that they will not accept demands of helps who protest against them.

Another help, Ramzana, said, “I am not taking part in any strike or protest as I do not want problems in earning my livelihood. I have to pay the school fees of my children and look after my ageing parents.”

Arti Kushwaha, the union representative of GKU, Gurgaon, refused to comment.