Plight of domestic workers

Malaysia is blessed with a diverse number of religious festivals and holidays. 

However, the sad reality is not everyone gets to celebrate them when they come around.

The recent Deepavali, for instance, is a good example. 

About 30 domestic workers in Kajang, Selangor, say they did not enjoy the religious holiday with their families because of the predicament that they are in – and the little or no support that they get from the authorities.    

Thenmoly Barack, 32, is project officer of Friends of Women's Organisation Selangor (Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor or PSWS). She joined the non-governmental organisation in 2008, although it has been in existence for 30 years. 

Thenmoly told me recently about what the ongoing struggle is like for many women domestic workers through the life of one Saras M (not her real name). 

Saras, 49, is the mother of two. Her boy, the eldest, is 10. Her girl is nine. 

Saras became a single parent when her husband left her nine years ago. 

Things became increasingly tough over each Deepavali after that for her family – especially with bread-and-butter issues.

"Deepavali last month was particularly miserable for them," Thenmoly says.

"Saras only had RM50 to spend for the occasion and the single mum was torn between getting her children what they wanted and what they really needed."

After a long decision, Saras decided to spend RM10 on some fireworks so as not to disappoint her eager children. RM6 went towards some festive cookies. The rest of the money was spent on meals with nothing left for new clothes. 

It is never easy looking after growing children when you are a domestic worker.

Saras begins her day at 4am. After preparing breakfast for her children and getting them ready for school, work starts at 8am.

The single mother is game for anything – as long as it puts food on the table for the children every day. Then there are also the kids’ educational needs and bills to take care of. 

Saras does virtually everything her employers tell her to in their homes. This includes cleaning, cooking, bathing their kids to washing their cars.

She will go to any home as long as she isn't busy working somewhere else – anything to earn an extra ringgit or two. 

And because she is so desperate, even insults fail to deter her.

One of her current employers forbids her from using their bathroom because they don't like the idea of "people like her" using it. So she has to go to the nearest shop to use the facilities when nature calls. 

Her children who sometimes tag along are not allowed inside the house. They wait outside instead, or play along the roadside while waiting for their mother. 

Saras works at least 12 hours a day, hoping to make extra cash whenever she can. She makes an average of about RM700 to RM800 a month. On a good month, an extra RM100 goes a long way.

"Life simply isn't fair for many of the domestic workers like Saras. The amount they make with such hard labour is not worth or equal to the effort which they put in – and employers often exploit such situations," says Thenmoly. 

"There is no quality of life or a future for women domestic workers, in particular, who are also single parents, unless attitudes start changing significantly in our society," she adds.

Thenmoly says domestic workers are not given a minimum wage, Employees Providence Fund (EPF) contributions and social security (Socso) or even insurance to protect them when they are sick or injured in a job hazard. 

"This is why we at PSWS are empowering these women to form a union with a woman domestic worker as a leader where they will at last be able to voice their concerns to the relevant authorities.   

"Most of these 30-odd women are single mothers, except for a couple who are married. However, they receive no support from their husbands," says Thenmoly.

To get in touch with her if you would like to help PSWS in its mission, call: Office 03-8737 8380 or mobile: 010-5072 131. Email: [email protected]. – November 10, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.