A unique initiative

How often do we appreciate the support we get from an array of helping hands (domestic help)! Many of us don't show much respect for people helping us with our household chores. Rather, at times we ill-treat them.

Though the government has recognised domestic helps as labourers and adopted “Domestic Worker Protection and Welfare Policy” in 2015, they do neither enjoy the rights of labourers nor get respect.

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A civil society platform, Shomman has begun a movement to ensure that all helping hands like domestic aides, chauffeurs, gardeners, liftmen and private security guards get respect they so deserve. 

Shomman is organising a unique way of showing respect on the eve of May Day, by saying “Sorry” to all “helping hands” in front of “Aparajaya Bangla” on the Dhaka University campus at 11:00am today. The organisers requested all to participate in the programme. 

Shomman has been actively involved in promoting the rights of helping hands, especially domestic helps, who are sometimes treated as modern-day slaves.

Shomman believes that "Everything begins at home. We need to change our mindset. Good-governance, democracy -- all begin at home as well. On the eve of May Day on April 30 2017 we want to say to all 'helping hands' -- we are really sorry."

In a statement, Shomman expressed the hope that one day, "All our helping hands will be taken care of with empathy when they fall sick, get hurt or hear bad news and all our helping hands, man and woman, young and old, will eat the same food in the same dining place.

"All our helping hands will get honour from their employers as the employers expect honour for themselves and all our helping hands will get flavor of harmony inside each home as courtesy and beating -- all begins at home."