A study on socio-economic status of part time female domestic workers in Siliguri, West Bengal Sen Tarit Kanti*, Majumder Krishanu Guha** *Lecturer of Commerce, Siliguri College of Commerce, Darjeeling, West Bengal **Research Scholar, Department of Commerce, University of Gour Banga, Malda Online published on 2 July, 2015. Abstract Taking initiation for Improving working condition for domestic workers is not a recent phenomenon, 78 year ago International Labour Organisation adopted the holidays with pay convention (1936, no 52) and established the right to six days of paid leave for workers in manufacturing and range of other industry, an agenda was arise in that conference regarding holidays with pay for domestic servant for future session of the conference. Domestics work are unique from different aspects. These workers are still excluded from various statutory provision that are enjoyed by other workers such as paid annual leave, fixed working time, minimum wage coverage and maternity protection. International Labour Organisation estimates at least 52.6 million domestic workers are active across the world in 2010. If all the domestic workers worked in a country, this country would be the tenth largest employer worldwide. This informal sector provides a valuable entry point in to the labour market for unskilled, illiterate and socially deprived rural woman for their livelihood. Domestic workers are mostly woman. This informal sector generally plays an important role to create job opportunity in developing region. This informal sector demand statutory provision to protect the interest of poorest people involved. The study found part time maid servant faced various constraints at their workplace in terms of poor wages bargaining power, time bounding, low paid wages, job threatening and fear to take leave. Average monthly wages of Part-time maid servant in SMC area was Rs 3453.00. The ratio between average earner and average adult family member is 0.28. As per report of NDWM, 2008, the Range of age of Woman domestic worker 12-75year. Out of 25% are children whose age is below 14 years. But in SMC the Range of part time maid servant is 18 to 60 years. There is no part time maid servant whose age is below 15 years in SMC area. Per capita monthly earning of one third part time female domestic worker was Rs. 1250. Public policy is required in mitigating work related issue and, as well as supporting targeted skill development programme for the urban poor in the informal sector, for sustainable urban poverty reduction. Top Keywords Domestic Servants, Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Informal Sector, Work-security, ILO. Top |