ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE
Vol. 07, Issue 03,March 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 1 A STUDY ON LOSS OF WORK OF DOMESTIC WORKERS AMID THE PANDEMIC AND
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM EMPLOYERS Ranjeet Kaur Patel
Research Scholar, Pacific Academic of Higher Education & Research University, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Dr. Seema Tatwawadi
Supervisor, Pacific Academic of Higher Education & Research University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, Director, Corporate Relations at MET League of Colleges
Abstract:
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to know the impact of the loss of job of a domestic worker due to the sudden announcement of lockdown in the light of Covid-19 and the financial support provided by employers in these challenging times.
Location: Western suburban areas of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India.
Methods: The survey was conducted by preparing a questionnaire, wherein 56 responses were received from various employers of Domestic Workers. The age group of the respondents was 21+ years for the study.
Conclusion: This study answers questions regarding the approach of cooperation and understanding the need and provision for financial assistance to the informal workforce which plays a vital role in day-to-day life for most of the homes, whereby many were deprived of earnings and lost their work due to sudden hit of pandemic.
Keywords: Domestic Workers, Employers, Financial assistance, Pandemic, Lockdown.
1 INTRODUCTION
The outbreak of coronavirus or Covid-19 brought the world to a standstill.
Countries started imposing a complete lockdown and restricted human movements worldwide to curb the infection and save humanity from this virus leading to what then came to be known as „the new normal‟. The impact of such restrictions led to unemployment around the globe.This study is about Domestic Workers‟ loss ofa job or reduced working hours having a significant impact on their earnings, which further extends to employers for providing financial assistance. As per the ILO estimation, 55 million Domestic Workers worldwide were significantly impacted by Covid-19.
(Organization, 15 June 2020).
This study aims to deep dive into understanding the severe impact of the pandemic on the lives of Domestic Workers, which indirectly affected employers in the Suburban areas of Mumbai.
1.1 Objectives
The objectives of the study are as follows:
1. To study the loss of work of domestic workers in the city of Mumbai due to the sudden hit of the coronavirus that led to a severe lockdown situation.
2. To study the financial assistance provided by employers in the lockdown period.
2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Review of Literature plays a significant role in any study, hence extensive literature has been reviewed for this study and it is as follows:
1. International Labour Organization The fact sheet of ILO estimates the early stages of pandemic job loss of Domestic Workers, on 15th March 2020,was 49.3%, on 15th May 2020 significantly increased to 73.3%, and on 4th June 2020, it was 72.3%
worldwide. The statistics is the clear indicator of the hardship of the Domestic Workers in the lockdown all over the world.(Organization, 15 June 2020).
2. Report
In India,a survey was conducted by fraym which report highlightsin the title “Covid-19 Pandemic Impact, Response & Recovery Study” in June 2021, how the pandemic directly affected the lives of people, including their perceptions and government response in this phase of recovery with the activation of various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Mahatma
ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE
Vol. 07, Issue 03,March 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 2 Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme. There are still many of them were deprived of basic necessities. (MGNREGA (Report, June 2021). A study on impact to India
3. A study on impact of covid-19 pandemic on unemployment in india
4. A study on impact of covid-19 pandemic on unemploym
3. Institute of Social Studies Trust (ISST)
This study was conducted by Monika Banerjee titled “Emerging from the lockdown: Insights from Women Domestic Workers‟ Lives in Delhi. In this study 65 women domestic workers were surveyed through telephone by preparing questionnaire. It highlights the depriving situation of Women Domestic Workers in the period of lockdown period also having impact long after the relaxation of lockdown. She also pointed out the lack of government support to these women in India. While other parts of the globe were taking care of these deprived women domestic workers.
(Banerjee, 2021)
4. National Library of Medicine This study highlights the effects of Covid-19 virus and lockdown phases in India with special reference to atmospheric perspective. Its basically based on Aerosol Optical Depth is analyzed by using Modis satellites. The five states were understudy that is Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and North-east states. The study also focuses on the Era before, during and after lockdown in 4 different phases.(Soni, 2021)
5. American Behavioral Scientist This study was conducted in Los Angeles and New York considered as epicenter for Domestic Workers in United States. The authors rightly pointed out that the work of home comes under the essential services but the return of monetary gain is not under the essentials. The data collected was based on observation methods adopted by authors in virtual town hall meetings of migrant domestic workers for more
than 30 hours on pandemic in both the places. The conclusion drawn by the authors mentioned that the domestic work is considered as essential but domestic workers are not. They furtherstate that the workers were not benefitted materially during these challenging times although giving them the status of heroes or being family members were just in words.(Kritika Pandey, 2021)
6. The Indian Economic Journal This study was conducted in 3 cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi in India. The researcher highlights the condition of women domestic workers regarding job loss, health, and support from state. The situation of these women was aggravated during pandemic being from informal, unrecognized and no fixed wages and job insecurity added to their vulnerability. Authors mentioned the need for the authorities to have some measures and policy for formalizing and providing the recognition to this deprived section of society.(B.S.
Sumalatha, 2021)
3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The Research Methodology used is a descriptive type of study. The data was collected from both the sources of data viz primary data as well secondary sources.
For the collection of primary data, a questionnaire of 10 questions was prepared along with personal details, and demographic data of age groups was sent online for convenience sampling technique of data collection. The samples selected were employers of Domestic Workers wherein 56 responses were received from them. The location selected was Suburban Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Secondary data was collected by browsing the various websites, Journals, Articles, ILO, Indian statistics, and various topic related reports for the study.
References were cited and credit was duly given to the sources.
3.1 Data Analysis and Interpretation In this paper, data collected by the researcher was analyzed and interpreted questions are as follows:
ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
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Vol. 07, Issue 03,March 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 3 Distribution of respondents by their
age of Employers of Domestic Workers Table - 1
Group Employers
Age Group Number %
21 – 30 years 14 25
31 - 40 years 19 33.9
41- 50 years 17 30.4
Above 50 years 6 10.7
Total 56 100
Interpretation: Most of the respondents were from the age group of 31-40 years which accounted for 33.9% whereas most respondents comprised age group 41-50 years that accounted for 30.4%
subsequently followed by the age group of 21-30 years by 25 % and the least were above 50 years contributing only 10.7% of the total responses.
The number of domestic workers working before the pandemic.
Table - 2
Group Employers
No. of Domestic
Workers Number %
One 39 69.6
Two 10 17.9
Three 6 10.7
Four and above 1 1.8
Total 56 100
Interpretation: Most of the respondents had only one Domestic worker as 69.6%
of responses were receivedand indicate the basic work contribution of cleaning utensils, mopping, dusting, etc. While 17.9% of respondents preferred to have two domestic workers and the least that is 1.8% prefer four and above for various household chores.
For how many months did you pay salaries to your domestic helper(s) during the lockdown?
Pie diagram - 1
Source: Complied Primary Data.
Interpretation: This question meets one of the objectives of this study regarding the financial assistance of employers of domestic workers.
The above pie diagram shows that 44.6%, most of the house owners have paid salaries for the entire period of lockdown which was almost for 4 to 6 months in the year 2020. About 8.9%
paid only for a month, 30.4% for two months, and 16.10% were deprived of any financial assistance by employers during the lockdown. It shows that most of the employers supported financially to their Domestic Workers.
The following table shows the responses received in „Yes‟ or „No‟ form for the other aspects of the study to have the various perception of the samples understudy.
Table - 3 Sr.
No. Questions Yes
(%) No (%) 1 After the declaration of complete lockdown, did you continue to seek
domestic help from your maid(s)/ servant(s)? 75 25
2 Do the same domestic workers continue to work at your home in the
post-lockdown period? 66.10 33.90
3 Did you pay salaries to your domestic helpers during the lockdown? 83.9 16.1 4 Are you managing household chores by yourself/with the help of
family members? 76.8 23.20
5 Have you provided any extra cash or kind assistance to domestic
workers during the lockdown period? 53.5 46.4
6 Are you happy without domestic workers? 46.4 53.5
7 Does getting domestic help play a significant role in your life? 89.3 10.7 8 Did you encourage/follow up with your domestic helper to get fully
vaccinated? 91.1 8.9
Source: Compiled Primary Data
The table above indicates, the responses received were mostly from working women, sharing the dual responsibilities of work from home along
with domestic responsibility in pandemic justifying the significance of a domestic worker for the employers.
ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE
Vol. 07, Issue 03,March 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 4 75% of respondents agreed that their
domestic workers continue to work till their society permits.While 25% stopped the domestic workers to work. There are various reasons associated like fear of virus spread as domestic workers visit many places, restrictions from authorities, cooperative society restrictions, containment zone, sealed complexes etc.
After the relaxation of lockdown 66.10% of respondents called back their old workers and the remaining lost their jobs and were not resumed for work.
83.9% of respondents paid wages to the domestic workers during the period when they were not working whereas 16.1%
were deprived of wages due to non- working during lockdown.
53.5% of the respondents were happy without domestic workers while 46.5% were unhappy without domestic help. The possible reason could be that majority of family women were working from home which was also associated with the help of other family members.
76.8% of respondents get the help of their family members for household chores in the absence of domestic help from maids. While balance managed by the household chores of their own.
About 89.3% of respondents accept the fact that domestic workers play a significant role in their day-to-day life.
While 10.70% is of opinion that domestic workers were insignificant.
91.1% of employers encouraged and helped their domestic workers to get vaccinated. 8.9% have not shown any interest.
4 CONCLUSION
The study reveals that most employers helped their domestic workers financially.
The majority resumed back to the work with the same employers after the relaxation policy of lockdown by the local authorities. While the some of the domestic workers have to hunt of the new jobs and compromising the wage‟s part due to the needs of basic requirements.
Some of the employers also informed that they got used to work without maids and hence prefer to continue the same. This again results in loss of the work of domestic workers.
One of the respondents also informed that she paid full salary in
lockdown when they didn‟t come to work for 2 months and the remaining 4 months gave them half salary. Almost covering the expenses of their domestic workers during the period of complete lockdown.
Many others have also helped with extra cash or kindness to this section of society and were silent for sharing their philanthropic contribution. Even government initiatives for PDS food grains free of cost, also contributed a lot of kind support during these challenging times.
Since some of the domestic workers were deprived financially as well as lossof jobs leaving the scope of further research in this area for potential researchers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. B.S. Sumalatha, L. D. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on Informal Sector: A Study on Women Domestic Workers in India. SAGE Journal, 441-461. DOI:
10.1177/00194662211023845
2. Banerjee, M. (2021, January). Emerging from the Lockdown: Insights from Women Domestic Workers' Lives in Delhi. Institute of Social Studies Trust, 1-16. Retrieved from https://www.isstindia.org/publications/1610 689612_pub_Final_Designed__Domestic_Wor kers_Report_compressed.pdf?msclkid=6232a 966a8e311eca07cde4a70ca5502
3. Kritika Pandey, R. S. (2021, March 17).
Essential and Expendable: Migrant Domestic Workers and the COVID-19 Pandemic. SAGE Journals. doi:
https:doi/10.1177/00027642211000396 4. Organization, I. L. (15 June 2020). Impact of
COVID-19 crises on loss of jobs and hours among domestic workers. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/domestic- workers/publications/factsheets/WCMS_747 961/lang--en/index.htm
5. Report, I. (June 2021). Covid-19 Pandemic impact, Response & Recovery Study.
6. Soni, P. (2021, January 6). Effects of COVID- 19 lockdown phases in India: an atmospheric perspective. Environment, development and sustainability, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01156- 4.
