Protecting livelihood, health, and decency of work: Paid domestic workers in times of COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 virus, combined with the state measures to contain it through lockdowns, has severely affected one of Chennai’s indomitable informal workforces, the paid domestic workers. In the last three decades, Chennai has seen a phenomenal growth of paid domestic work along with the growth of other service sectors. With the pandemic, paid domestic workers are facing the crisis of employment and nonpayment of salary, in addition to the pre-existing social stigmas against them. Some of them are forced to go for work amidst the virus crisis, risking their life with no health security. Some employers have shrewdly dismissed these workers just before the lockdown and promised to take them back once the lockdown is eased. However, some of these workers are not convinced about getting their jobs back. A large proportion of women domestic workers are middle-aged married women, among whom a substantial number are widows or divorced or living with alcoholic, abusive husbands with financial instability in family.