By Varun Singh

On Friday, the department of cooperatives, directed the cooperatives commissioner, Pune, to inform all housing societies that they cannot frame rules of their own.

Many housing societies had come up with rules barring the entry of maids and even drivers in their complexes in the wake of COVID 19.

Even those that allowed had put several clauses, one such clause was, that maids should bring in test results to show that they are not COVID positive.

Also Read: Societies now demand COVID test reports of maids

The letter issued on Friday reads, “In the wake of COVI 19, the instructions issued by the government from time to time never barred domestic workers and drivers from entering the premises of housing societies for work.”

It further states, “However, some cooperative housing societies are restricting access of maids and drivers. Accordingly, the government has observed that the office bearers of cooperative housing societies are preparing regulations contrary to the directives of the government.”

The letter has asked cooperatives commissioner to inform all societies to follow the rules laid down by the government regarding entry of maids and drivers.

Even Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MahaSeWa), a body comprising of housing societies had earlier concluded that Managing Committees had no right to stop a maid to come and work.

Also Read: Managing Committee has no right to stop any maid

The maids union on the demand of some societies asking COVID test results from them had asked whether their employers will do the same.

Babli Rawat, General Secretary of Domestic Workers Federation, on the move of societies barring maids had then said, “This disease came from the rich people who travelled to foreign countries, and then it got transmitted in slums and other areas.”

Maids had asked why were the poor being punished for a disease brought in by the rich on maids not being allowed by housing societies.

Maids are essential in many households, especially those where senior citizens reside as they are dependent on them for cooking food and cleaning of the house.

This new letter from the government will cheer up many of those who were not pleased by the rules made by housing societies.

Also Read: Maids ask, will employers show their COVID reports?

The post Housing society cannot stop maids, drivers: State Govt appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

If one resides in a metro city like Mumbai, then the person knows the importance of a maid.

However, in the wake of Coronavirus, many housing societies have shut their gates for the maids.

Many housing societies have even asked their maids to get COVID 19 test done and show the reports that they are negative.

Only then are they shall allow maids to work at their societies.

This has upset the maids, not that they feel asking report is wrong, but the way they are being treated is what they feel is wrong.

They have a question to the housing societies, and to their employers in regards to the COVID 19 test reports.

“We are ready to show our test reports, are you going to show test reports of every individual at the home where we will work?” They say what if the employers or any of the members at the home they work are infected?

Babli Rawat, General Secretary of Domestic Workers Federation has called the move by most of the housing societies as discriminatory.

“Many societies want maids to come to work, bring their test reports and stay back at their place. What about the member of those homes, are they going to test everyday and show report when they return from office or outside?” asked Rawat.

According to Rawat, the poor are being troubled for something they are not even remotely responsible for.

“This disease came from the rich people who travelled to foreign countries, and then it got transmitted in slums and other areas. The maids are not even allowed to work in societies they are being returned from gate these days this is bad,” she said.

Most maids in metro cities don’t work at one house, to run their home they work at multiple households throughout the day. Thus Rawat says staying at one home is neither possible nor economically feasible.

Many housing societies have asked their domestic workers to not report to work till June 30. Maharashtra has imposed a lockdown in the state till then.

Also Read: Societies now demand COVID test reports of maids

The post Maids ask, will employers show their COVID reports? appeared first on Square Feat India.