16/06/2025
We are Workers Not Slaves
Every day across Pakistan, millions of women and girls leave their homes quietly to care for others — to cook, clean, wash, and raise children in households that are not their own. These are our domestic workers. They are the unseen, unheard pillars of our homes — and yet, they remain among the most exploited and unprotected workers in our country.
I write this not just as a union leader, but as a sister to every domestic worker who has faced abuse, been underpaid, or silenced in pain. These women are not just helpers — they are workers, and they deserve respect, rights, and recognition.
Domestic workers in Pakistan face many challenges:
Long working hours with no rest
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Low or unpaid wages
Verbal, physical, and sometimes sexually abused
No written contracts, no job security
And in far too many cases, even violence and death, like the heartbreaking case of 8-year-old Zohra Shah
They have no social security, no pension, and no voice — until now.
The Domestic Workers Union is that voice. We are organizing women from the ground up, educating them about their rights, and demanding protection under labor laws. We successfully pushed for the Punjab Domestic Workers Act, and continue to fight for fair wages, weekly holidays, social protection, and dignity for every domestic worker — in every home.
But we cannot do this alone. We need support from the government, civil society, employers, and every person who believes in justice.
To every domestic worker reading this: You are strong. You are worthy. You are not alone.
To every employer: Treat your worker as you would treat your own sister. Her hands may be worn, but they carry the weight of a nation.
Together, let us build a Pakistan where no worker is invisible. Because domestic work is real work — and every hand that serves deserves to be held with respect.
