By Wezi Tjaronda
WINDHOEK
The Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRi) has embarked on a study that will give insight into the working and living conditions of domestic workers in Namibia.
Domestic workers are among the most vulnerable and marginalised workers who according to LaRRI Director, Hilma Shindondola, are not treated with the dignity and respect they so deserve.
Domestic workers are also lowly remunerated, with the lowest full time employee being paid between N$200 and N$300 per month, while the highest paid gets up to N$1 500 per month.
Field research for the study, a project of LaRRI in conjunction with the Namibia Farm Workers Union (NAFWU), is expected to start on Monday, June 25.
Announcing the study yesterday, Shindondola said little is known about the size, needs and challenges that the workers face due to among others, the collapse of the structures of the Namibia Domestic Workers Union (NDAWU) and a lack of recent research.
The study will look at an overview of the current situation, the extent to which domestics are organised and their desire to be unionised, solicit views on the establishment of a minimum wage, the availability of benefits such as housing, medical aid and pension, their income and expenditure and general experiences between workers.
The other issues that form part of the study are the relations between workers and employers, the general working conditions and the need for skills development.
The results of the study, expected at the end of 2007, will be used for a campaign to create awareness on the lives of domestic workers and also make recommendations to the government, which may be used for the finalisation of the New Labour Act.
Due to the low wages that most domestic workers get, the results will also be used to push for the betterment of their conditions.
Realising the private nature of domestic work, LaRRI appealed to traditional authorities, authorities, employers and domestic workers to fully cooperate with the field workers for them to gather good and reliable data. For identification, the field researchers will have a nametag on which LaRRI’s logo and contact details are imprinted. Although the 2004 Labour Force Survey found that Namibia has approximately 24 000 household employees, the figure may not be a true reflection of the actual number of workers because private households are not easily accessible to researchers and also because of the private nature of domestic work, which makes it difficult to organise them.
Additionally, many people from neighbouring countries, namely Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia have entered Namibia and are doing domestic work due to the economic conditions in their countries.
The study will cover the northern central regions, Caprivi, Kavango, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, Karas and Omaheke.