You are here: Home / Activities / Kenya: Unions Celebrate International Women's Day by Advocating for Domestic Workers Rights
Kenya: Unions Celebrate International Women's Day by Advocating for Domestic Workers Rights

Kenya: Unions Celebrate International Women's Day by Advocating for Domestic Workers Rights

Comments
by IDWFED published Mar 08, 2012 12:00 AM
The Kenyan Trade Unions under the national umbrella body COTU, held a colorful celebration of International Women’s day on 8th March 2012. Women drawn from all affiliates from various industries gathered in Nairobi to mark the day.
When
Mar 08, 2012 (Universal / UTC0)
Where
Kenya
Add event to calendar
iCal

 

KENYA -

The Kenyan Trade Unions under the national umbrella body COTU, held a colorful celebration of International Women’s day on 8th March 2012. Women drawn from all affiliates from various industries gathered in Nairobi to mark the day.

The main theme of the day was: “Empowering women and girls; inspiring futures”. This was to be depicted through the lives and case studies of the domestic workers’ sector which was facilitated by Eva Magiri of KUDHEIHA Workers.

The main aim was to advocate and lobby the women in support of ratification of Convention 189 in Kenya and urge them to speak in one voice in solidarity with the domestic workers. Other topics covered included women and trade unionism. The deputy Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), Sis. Caroline Ruto joined the women in the celebration.

For every challenge and success stories presented, case studies from different cities in Kenya were collected to show the participants how real issues in this sector are. Most women were mesmerized to see the various employment and contract letters issued to domestic workers from the various examples tabled and promised to do the same to their domestic workers back at their homes.

Here are some of the challenges and case studies presented:

  • Low, unpredictable and inconsistently paid out wages
  • Lack of Social Security
    Case Study 1: According to a research by KUDHEIHA in collaboration with FES, only 10% of the 377 interviewed are insured by the National Social Security Fund and only 20% by the National Health Insurance Fund.
  • Poor Housing that lacks privacy and decency
    Case Study 2: A domestic worker from Kisumu, Ms Atieno was given a corridor space next to the kitchen to be her sleeping place
  • Lack of Food and Poor diets
    Case Study 3: A domestic worker from Kisumu was entitled to Ksh 10 only to buy meal of maize and beans everyday. She cannot share in the family meals.
  • Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and manipulation.
    These abuses mostly go unreported to the law enforcement personnel.
    Case Study 4: The pullout of the People newspaper on January 23, 2011 with heading "Chains of sexual abuse enslave domestic workers".
    Case Study 5: The case of a domestic worker burnt with hot water by her employer in Donholm estate sustaining serious burns.

Moreover, the participants were handed pamphlets showing the minimum wage and other allowances that a domestic worker is entitled to. Also distributed was the newly published booklet by KUDHEIHA on successful organization of domestic workers in Kenya.

The women agreed to join forces and support the call for ratification of C189 and domestic workers rights in Kenya.

blog comments powered by Disqus