[ad_1]
The Domestic Service Workers Union has called on the government to develop a social protection package that addresses the particular needs of domestic workers.
The Union is of the opinion that the package should be similar to the Empowering Livelihoods Against Poverty package.
Ms Eva Atakpa, President of the Union, urged the government to also review the bureaucracy and the criteria for accessing loans under the stimulus package for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to allow domestic workers, who They had started small businesses, also benefiting from it.
The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) under the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project supported by Plan International Ghana with funding from Global Affairs Canada, is organizing a series of activities aimed at involving the government and others key actors to ensure that government interventions addressing the impacts of COVID-19 were differentiated by gender.
The Project also seeks to support NETRIGHT members and other women’s groups to continue reaching out to communities, especially women, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the activities outlined for its COVID-19 pandemic project titled: “Addressing the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls, NETRIGHT in collaboration with the leadership of the Domestic Service Workers Union organized a meeting to discuss the consequences of COVID-19 and its implications for their livelihood.
He congratulated the government for the approval of the Labor Regulations (Domestic Workers), 2020 (LI 2408).
The Regulation recognizes domestic workers in their own rights as workers stipulated in the country’s labor legislation.
He said the absence of regulation in the wake of the pandemic greatly affected their working conditions, causing incalculable hardship and poverty.
He said that with the approval of LI 2408, “we are hopeful that this will help regulate domestic work leading to an improvement in our working conditions.”
The president said that due to the pandemic and fears that employers would expose their families to the virus, the contracts of many domestic workers were terminated, leading to job losses, affecting their livelihoods and working conditions. lifetime.
On domestic violence, she said domestic domestic workers continued to face a large number of uncompensated workloads and assaults, harassment, sexual exploitation, physical abuse and denial of their income.
“We, the Domestic Service Workers Union, pledge our support to educate our members and also call on the government through the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations to educate employers and the public to make sure it is applied and the new LI 2408 is enforced ”, he added. .
He expressed his gratitude to NETRIGHT for providing the platform for a stronger and collective voice to raise awareness of their specific issues and the demand for redress.
The President congratulated all workers in the informal economy for their hard work and contribution to the growth of the economy and urged the government to implement strategic policies to promote decent jobs for all workers.
Mrs. Patricia Blankson Akakpo, NETRIGHT Program Manager presented some relief items and Personal Protective Equipment to the Union leaders.
Source: GNA
