Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, May 28, 2025 (BSS) - Speakers at a programme underscored the need for collective efforts from all, including government, non-government, and volunteer organizations, to protect the legitimate rights of domestic workers.

Many solvent families, and even some low-income ones, are seen to depend on household workers. Therefore, the protection of domestic workers' rights has become an urgent necessity, they observed.

They also noted that women domestic workers are contributing to the process of achieving sustainable development, and that the time has come to bring women's participation in domestic work under social recognition for their welfare.

Government officials and development activists made the observation while addressing a dialogue titled "Contribution of Domestic Workers in Rajshahi City, Problems and Way Forward" at a hotel in the city.

Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), a research-based development organization, organized the dialogue as part of the implementation of its 'Poverty Reduction and Urban Resilience Programme.'
Assistant Director of the Department of Youth Development Rina Yeasmin, Town Social Service Officer Abdul Momin, Hostel Superintendent of the Department of Women Affairs Ferdous Rabia, and General Secretary of Varendra Youth Forum Sabitry Hembrom addressed the meeting as resource persons.

Amrin Binte Azad, Policy Research and Advocacy Officer of BARCIK, presented the preliminary results of a study conducted on women domestic workers in the city, while Regional Coordinator Shahidul Islam presented a theme paper illustrating BARCIK's activities.

The meeting was informed that the 'Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015' was declared with the main objective of ensuring the protection and welfare of all household workers.

The policy should be brought under the purview of the Labour Act 2006 to ensure their moral dignity and prevent further abuse, the speakers mentioned.