Sms Survey for Domestic Workers

Catherine Sasman

22 June 2011

The Namibian Domestic Workers Union (NDAWU) has launched a two-month campaign in which it invites the public to ‘select’ the appropriate wage category for domestic workers.

The campaign was launched by the general secretary of NDAWU and Namibian Farmworkers Union (NFU), Alfred Angula.

The public is requested to select whether domestic workers should receive N$1 500, N$2 000, or another monthly amount, by text messaging the word “domestic” plus A, B, or C for the different wage categories to number 2580.

Angula said the SMS survey is towards the setting of a minimum wage for domestic workers, which is currently non-existent.

“Domestic workers are of the most disadvantaged workers, they are very lowly paid, and their work is undervalued,” emphasised Angula.

He said the union has opted to do the survey by SMS to allow for greater participation, after which the data will be collated and a proposal for a minimum wage formalised to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

The format of the survey was criticised by some in the trade union sector.

The critics felt that the survey would constitute ‘faceless’ respondents, without qualification of gender, class, or other important variables needed in any research.

“Whatever the survey concludes, a recommendation on how to arrive at a minimum wage must have the blessing of both domestic workers and employers,” said one.

In 2008, the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) estimated that there are more than 25 000 domestic workers in the country, with salaries varying widely.

The director of LaRRI, Hilma Shindondolo-Mote, said it would be difficult to propose a blanket minimum wage for domestic workers because it is largely dependent on the social status of domestic employers.

“I think the best way to handle domestic labour is to have a special division within the labour ministry that deals specifically with domestic workers,” suggested Shindondolo-Mote.

Through such a division, she suggested, domestic labour can be ‘professionalised’ with a database of names and skills.

LaRRI had proposed a stakeholders’ meeting in 2008 to arrive at an “appropriate liveable wage” without compromising domestic workers and employers who do not generate profits from the labour gained through domestic work.

She further suggested a special fund from either the labour ministry or created through the Social Security Commission (SSC) to supplement domestic wages.

South Africa has introduced three ‘social zones’ according to which domestic labourers ought to be remunerated, to ensure ‘appropriate’ salary scales.

A recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland, discussed decent work for domestic workers, with a view to introducing labour standards for domestic workers.

These standards include a minimum age for domestic workers, protection against forms of abuse, harassment and violence, fair terms of employment and minimum weekly hours.

Returning from the conference, labour minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko said Namibia will start a tripartite meeting to consider measures to meet the international standards.

The ministry has already established a wage commission that investigates the wages and conditions of domestic workers.

He said the terms of reference of the commission would be informed by the new international labour standard.

AllAfrica – All the Time