Lunch hours is less than 20 minutes 74.4%, depression is suspected or certain 21.9%
- November 28th, open forum on fact-find survey for work and health of domestic workers-
In fact, I have to rush as sole get sweat. Always, at clock, put eyes on a clock. I set time schedule for each of work, so I work very hard to finish within the time. (Interviewee 6)
Last week when I went to a new house, a man opens the gate. It is expected to open the gate after making himself presentable when woman stand out of the gate. But the guy says ‘Who’s there?’ zipping up a zip. I got shocked. There are houses like that. I heard that there are houses where in spite of female domestic workers presenting, male member of dweller goes around with only underpants. (Interviewee 6)
We do heavy labor for 4 hours. It’s needed to have some snack during 4 hours of work. I am hoping to have little time for that, for snack. around 10 minutes, 20 minutes. But I think customer won’t be happy with that. (Interviewee 9)
We wring rags a lot, perhaps wring rags dozens of times. Feel pain on here[wrist]. It been some time that finger joints got arthritis. Yes, I heard that I’ve got rheumatoid arthritis because I work too much. (Interviewee 1)
Above, they are voice from 10 domestic workers who participated in in-depth interview. It is discovered that domestic workers work hard physically being pressed for time, there is no time for snack, even for lunch they have to finish in 20 minutes, they have lunch in a car or at mart or on a street. However they are not eligible for industrial accident compensate insurance as they are not ‘workers’.
[main contents of open forum presentation]
1. characteristic of respondents
2. Actual condition of work and health
○ response to work for 35 hours and more a week is 35.6%. In case of respondents working less than 20 hours, 25.6% of them said that ‘illness’ is the reason, which shows health condition of domestic workers is severe.
○ In case of 4 hour domestic work, there are 29 kinds of work to do for 4 hours. To finish 29 kinds of work within 4 hours, one thing has to be done every 8 minutes. It is showed that domestic work is high intensive labor to complete given work within fixed time.
○ 77.4% of respondent said they have lunch by themselves. For time to spend for lunch, less than 20 minutes came the largest with 74.4% and less than 10 minutes account for 29.3%, which shows that there is no secured lunch time for them. For places of lunch, response to in a car or mart or even street accounts for 54.5%, showing that a proper measure is needed.
○ 51.9% of respondents have musculoskeletal disease to be cured, meaning that half of domestic workers are in very bad health.
3. Alternatives for work and health of domestic workers
○ Recognize domestic workers as workers by amending Labor Standard Act and include them in 4 major social security beneficiaries.
○ create jobs in public sector with job security and wage rise
Example) Changwon city create jobs and provide welfare for father-child family at the same time by initiating project to send house manager to father-child family for work-life balance
○ Relevant organization in local society comes together to push ahead with social agreement for social recognition and basic human rights of domestic workers. Also establish guideline for health of domestic workers including ensuring minimum rest.
○ create infrastructure for domestic worker so that their health right can be secured. for example, running health programs for domestic workers at community health center can be a good practice.