DAR ES SALAAM: FOR many domestic workers in Tanzania, a weekly day off remains more a matter of employers’ goodwill than a guaranteed workplace right. While some are allowed to visit relatives, attend religious services or simply rest often on Sundays, many others work every day without a break, carrying out demanding household responsibilities from dawn until late at night. Domestic workers play a vital role in many households, cleaning homes, cooking meals, washing clothes and caring for children, enabling employers to focus on work and other commitments.
Yet despite their contribution, many still lack one of the most basic labour rights- days off. Ms Nadhifa Juma, a resident of Kigamboni, says her domestic worker rarely gets a day off because she helps care for her young twin children. “Because I have twins, it’s difficult to manage even a single day without assistance,” she says.
However, she adds that whenever the family travels during holidays, they take their domestic worker along so she can also relax and enjoy a change of environment. Other employers are choosing a different approach by helping domestic workers acquire vocational skills alongside their household duties. Ms Rehema Bosco, a professional tailor, says she decided to teach her domestic worker tailoring instead of allowing her to remain idle while her primary school-aged child is at school.
“I realised it was not just about getting help with household duties, but also about equipping her with a skill that can improve her future,” Rehema says. Her domestic worker, Ms Sophia Abdalah, describes the opportunity as lifechanging. “In addition to earning my monthly salary of 50,000/-, I am learning tailoring free of charge.
These skills will help me start my own business one day,” she says. Labour experts say such initiatives demonstrate how employers can contribute to domestic workers’ long-term economic independence while still respecting their rights as employees. International labour standards also recognise the importance of rest for domestic workers.
Workers’ rights advocates say regular time off is essential not only for physical recovery but also for protecting workers’ dignity, mental health and productivity. Director of Wadada Consultant, an organisation that trains domestic workers and links them with employment opportunities, Mr John Range, says domestic workers should have formal e…
Summary from source