Working as a Domestic Maid : Survival Strategy for Poor Women

Abstract

Purpose : Since many domestic maids lost their employment and their houses became uncomfortable, it became crucial to comprehend their lives and the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, we discussed the difficulties faced by domestic workers during the lockdown and how, in the end, their employment provided a means of protection from verbal and physical abuse.

Methodology : Using data from a primary survey of married working women as part-time maids in the urban informal sector in a colony in West Delhi, this paper discussed survival strategies for poor domestic maids in general and during the coronavirus pandemic in particular. The study adopted simple convenience sampling, deemed suitable to minimize and control the bias. For the study, we floated a structured questionnaire and received 129 responses.

Findings : Although the benefits did not reach the general public, the policy of transferring cash to the Jan Dhan account during COVID-19 was a positive step. While the maids were grateful for the wheat and rice they got during COVID-19, the ration quality was appalling. Third, the issue of physical and verbal abuse was widely prevalent during COVID-19 times as the spouses knew there would be no serious repercussions or punishments for the same.

Practical Implications : For the benefits to reach the underprivileged appropriately, emphasis should be placed on the policies' effective implementation. Workers in the informal sector must find ways to deal with the issues they encounter daily because they cannot.

Originality : We were unaware of any research that explicitly looked at the working circumstances for part-time domestic servants after the pandemic, both generally and in detail.