Luxury for one could provide stability to another, financially!

"What's the reasonable wage we should set for domestic workers?", asked a resident in our WhatsApp Group of the community I live in. As the permanent in-house secretary,  I had a moral obligation to respond, which I did.

I replied with a suggestion, "If there is consensus we could set a standard and provide that as a guidance to community members." Little did I know my post will trigger a democratic debate in words and result in creating history for most active participation in a day since that WhatsApp group was created! I remained a silent spectator for well over 30 mins, learning from perspectives shared both in favor and against standardization.

Someone asked, "Isn’t “reasonable” relative? What seems reasonable to one, might seem expensive to another." 

Another person pitched in with this clarification, "The point we are talking is about certain percentage of uniformity. Like, if we are a family of 2 adults and a kid, a reasonable amount should be declared. Moping can be decided as per rooms in a flat."

An informed gentleman added, "With all due respect, standardization of salaries will be inimical to the interest of people working as domestic helps. As it is they are workers in an unorganized sector and they work with zero benefits and job security."

Eventually, there was consensus, to let the employer (i.e. residents) and employee (i.e. domestic help/maids) decide on a mutually agreeable wage for the level of work expected. The debate was healthy, as care and compassion led to consensus. If residents put a monetary value for time their domestic workers free up for them then rhe  intangible value of domestic workers' effort will dawn upon them. The wage they get to achieve financial stability is negligible to the financial luxury they enable for their employers! 

Popular posts from this blog

A kid who graduated; with happiness!

Image
My Little Tall One is now Our Tall One! Once a kid, who did not have much to express, mesmerized the stage for twenty mins with a dozen plus expressions. Once a kid, who did not have much to speak  has risen from her own shadows to speak out loud for the one for whom a great war was fought.  Once a kid who would wail at the sight of injured animal dared to wash her hair and fear with blood of courage!  Yes, our little tall one has made us stand tall with pride. The world is your stage now. Go conquer it, my dear.  Make your presence felt like water that gushes down the Himalayas and reveales as the river of Life - Jan Navi!  But don't forget you were once a kid and that kid will always be within, waiting to be watched, to be wondered and create wonders just like kids do!  ©Balaji Palanidurai 
Read more

Money matters, mindset counts!

Image
I'm standing by the window, gazing out at the cloudy Chennai sky on this Sunday morning. Nitya, my young friend, rushes up to me, beaming with pride, her white shoes gleaming in the soft light. "Uncle, see! My shoes are sparkling!" she exclaims, her eyes shining with excitement. I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Wow, Nitya, your shoes look amazing! You must have worked hard to clean them." I ask, curious about her motivation. She grins mischievously. "Dad gave me 10 rupees every time I clean them, Uncle!" she says, her voice full of pride. I chuckle, remembering my own childhood, when I didn't need incentives to keep my shoes clean. I glance out the window, taking in the view of the large, green land parcel next to the hotel. And then I spot them – a family of pigs, roaming freely amidst the bushes and patches of grass. I gasp in surprise. Nitya follows my gaze and squeals with delight. "Piggies! Uncle, look! Piggies!...
Read more

The fresher who sacrificed her balcony

Image
"Can you please tell the warden that I do not want to move to another room?", it was my daughter on the phone. It was just 2 weeks since we settled her at a University far away from home. She was lucky to get a nice twinsharing room on the 3rd floor of a beautiful hostel building. An east facing balcony overlooking a nice hill was a luxury and something she did not have at home. A room mate was all that was needed and she was looking forward to welcoming one. Two weeks later she got an unpleasant surprise. Couple of seniors, who returned to campus for their second year, knocked on her door and asked my daughter to move in to a room on the 1st floor with another 1st year student. That student too did not have a roommate and alas that room did not have a balcony either! "Did you check if the other 1st year student is willing to move in to your room?", I asked out of curiosity and courtesy. "Yes, I did. She does not want to move up", came her repl...
Read more