Time to guarantee the rights of domestic workers

By Ama Achiaa Amankwah
LAWA-Ghana Alumnae Incorporated, a non-governmental organisation comprising a group of women lawyers, continues to undertake certain legislative advocacy projects to promote women’s economic and social rights in Ghana.
The latest of such projects by LAWA-Ghana is ensuring the rights of domestic workers (domestic assistants), often referred to as house helps in Ghana are guaranteed.
This group of people could include house girls and boys, maidservants, watchmen and sometimes drivers.
They often serve several categories of people in the home. It is perceived that people who often hire their services are relations due to the country’s strong cultural attitudes and practices.
Such relations often promise the domestic assistants, (DAs) greener pastures/ better life but the end these promises are not delivered.
Many of the domestic workers who are females are required to be on duty from dawn to dusk, performing countless and difficult household chores for little or no compensation.
People “employed” under such circumstances are generally from poor backgrounds. Mostly, they migrate from rural areas and are sometimes below the age of eighteen.
Twelve year old Efua Ackon (not real name), a maid servant, had a horrible experience when she was accused by her mistress for stealing. However, the madam never allowed Efua into her bedroom. But for her to confess to the crime she was severely abused.

“My fingertips were exposed to a lighted candle. I also had to sleep in the dark store room for three days without food. My madam insisted that I speak the truth, but I didn’t know anything about the missing money.”
This is just one of such ordeals domestic workers go through at the hands of their benefactors.
A research by LAWA-Ghana in the year 2003 in Accra and Tema revealed that domestic workers are usually denied basic human rights.
They do not engage in any form of contract and even when they do, it is usually done through agencies.
Many do not receive any wages, let alone plan for the future through the Social Security and National Insurance Scheme, (SSNIT).
Majority of DAs who are females are vulnerable to sexual abuses, particularly adolescent ones.
This indicates the need for a law to be enacted to provide specific labour regulations for the exceptional employment situations of domestic workers in general.
Education and sensitization of persons such as employers and domestic workers is also necessary so that both parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
Ministries, departments and agencies responsible to protect domestic workers should be trained appropriately. Traditional and religious leaders as well as parents and girls, particularly in the rural areas must be sensitized so that they understand the actual risks and costs of engaging in domestic work.
According to Miss Sheila Minkah-Premo, member of LAWA-Ghana, her group is poised to use human rights based approach to promote the rights of domestic assistants in Ghana.
Already, the group has drafted proposals for the passage of regulations to address the issue under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
LAWA-Ghana is to undertake further research at the regional level and do more sensitization. Rights and Voices Initiative, (RAVI) is supporting the project.
The aim is to raise awareness about the rights of domestic assistants, to mobilize them to advocate for the protection of their rights and to push for the enactment of proposed comprehensive labour Act, (Domestic Workers) Regulation as a subsidiary legislation under the Labour Act.
It will also ensure that Ghana fulfills her international labour obligations and provide job security and encourage professionalism.
Four regions, namely, Volta, Ashanti, Western and Central regions have been selected for the research to be carried between now and 2006. Miss Minkah-Premo stated, “there is need to make this vocation more attractive and professional to attract people to enter it to earn a living.”