Q.

Write an argumentative essay conveying your point of view on domestic help: another
form of bonded labour. (700-900 words)

Ans. ‘Domestic help is an employee paid to perform menial tasks around the household.’
In India, we are extremely familiar with the concept of domestic help. Which of us, in our
households, can manage without a Ramu, a Chotu or a Shankar? In this country, we have
few developed cities and millions of villages with a large, poor population. These people
migrate to the cities looking for work. They earn low wages in their villages and come to
the metropolitan cities in search of better salaries and higher standards of living. In most
cases, the domestic employee is unskilled; the employer has greater skill and ability. An
individual coming from a village may have never experienced something as basic as a
doorbell; and may be unaware that one must answer the door when the doorbell rings.
However, as the employer has less time, inclination and desire to handle most household
chores, he or she would rather employ someone to ‘help’. In return, the employee
receives a salary according to market conditions, a decent home to stay in, a feeling of
security, and healthy, adequate food. In many situations, long term domestic help are
treated like family members and develop a strong sense of belonging.

‘Debt bondage or bonded labour is a means of paying off loans with direct labour instead
of currency or goods.’ The first signs of bonded labour trace back to approximately the
early sixteen hundreds. When a needy person takes a loan and is unable to pay it back or
offer a tangible asset in exchange, he/she can offer his/her services as a method of
repayment. The employee is bound to his employer and cannot shift jobs, often resulting
in exploitation and ill treatment. The labourer could be unhappy, but is stuck as he/she
has to repay the debt. Bonded labourers have no legal recourse in most countries; this
problem is further compounded in countries like South America and Asia where there are
large numbers of illegal immigrants. In extreme cases, the debt is so large that it extends
to the next generation — children of the labourer cannot free themselves either.

I think domestic help, in a broad perspective, is not a form of bonded labour. While both
kinds of labour belong to the unorganised sector, certain western countries do provide a
level of protection to domestic help. In the United States of America, employers are
required to pay domestic help a minimum wage. Further, due to shortage of employees
willing to work as domestic help, employers in the West provide good amenities like
excellent accommodation and fixed working hours. Even in the Middle East and South
East Asia, domestic help are given a month’s paid leave, medical coverage and a good
bonus.

The biggest differentiating factor between domestic help and bonded labour arises from
the freedom of choice. I could illustrate this with the following examples:
• The domestic helper has the choice to perform only certain tasks — a cook may
refuse to wash clothes.
• He/she can work with any employer of his/her choice — a young maid may prefer to
work with an elderly couple, while a young teen may enjoy working with a nuclear
family.
• In cases of ill treatment and abuse, the domestic employee can file a complaint with
the police. As bonded labour is illegal in most countries, the abused has no choice but
to suffer silently.
• The domestic helper can choose the location of his work place – he may want to be in
a locality close to where his fellow villagers work.
• An employee dissatisfied with the wage he receives can negotiate for a better salary
or amenities.
• Self respect and dignity are core traits a human being values most – the terms of
employment allow the domestic employee to maintain a level of self esteem.

None of these options are available to a bonded labourer, which is why I believe domestic
help cannot be construed to be a form of bonded labour.

I believe domestic help — which most people in India need and use — is not a form of
bonded labour. Bonded labour is when the employer has total control over the employee
and can treat him/her any way they feel like. In most cases, the entire family is bound to
the employer. With reference to domestic help, the worker has shifted from his village to
the city and looks to get a good salary. He/she uses this money either to pay off some
debt, or to finance his/her family.

(753 words)

Prepared By:
Tanay Gabhawala