A month ago, news broke that the authorities in Gujranwala had arrested an industrialist for allegedly stabbing to death a minor servant, Muhammed Nazir, for demanding his salary. The industrialist insisted that Nazir pressured him to pay and insulted him due to the delay in payment, the act that provoked Nazir’s death. Nazir is one of the many live-in domestic workers to whom their employers mete out ill-treatment on a regular basis. This case is a true depiction of live-in domestic workers being exposed to a heightened risk of abuse, harassment and violence and being victims of pay discrimination. These domestic workers are left entirely at the will and whims of their employers who are free to get rid of them when such need arises without any legal consequences of their act. In Pakistan, there are inadequate laws that address the issue of domestic workers and hardly any legislation exists that primarily emphasises protecting the rights of such workers. Notwithstanding the huge role that these domestic workers play in our society, they are still not recognised and their contributions are not being acknowledged in our national income. It is pertinent to note that the prevailing scenario that exists in Pakistan with regard to the rights of domestic workers requires dire attention and it is time to propose legislation that spells out the rights of domestic workers and the obligations of employers. The practice of hiring domestic workers is widespread across Pakistan and numerous cases of violence and abuse inflicted on such workers have been reported to the media and civil society, but to date no concrete step has been taken to resolve their dilemmas. The number of casualties amongst domestic workers are continuously on the rise; and in order to stop this, it is crucial for Pakistan’s legal fraternity and policy makers to propose cogent laws that not only prohibit any act of violence but also provide these workers with basic rights that fulfil their needs. It is important for Pakistan to not only ratify the ILO Convention 189 pertaining to domestic workers but also pass the ‘Domestic Workers Bill of Rights’, as such an instrument will give a fresh impetus to the promotion and protection of workers’ rights by spelling out their privileges and explaining procedural requirements for claiming them. Requiring a written contract for domestic workers will be perceived as a huge step in bringing domestic work within the realm of the formal sector in Pakistan. It will act as a mitigating factor when a dispute arises, which questions the existence of the employment relationship between the employer and the worker. Given the way domestic workers operate in Pakistan and their financial and social standing, most of them are oblivious of their legal rights and enforcement mechanisms; hence, written contracts can come into play when their basic rights are in jeopardy. For written contracts to work in the domestic workers’ case, there is a need to hold regular awareness-raising sessions with the aim of imparting information to these workers about their rudimentary rights. Pakistan must learn from and adopt the model being followed in other countries, quoting Kazakhstan as an example where its Labour Code of 2007, article 214 states: “The employment of a domestic worker is confirmed by the contract of employment.” The legislation must guarantee the right of freedom of association to domestic workers and must promote collective bargaining. Domestic workers must be allowed to form their organisations and government must take measures to encourage development of such representation and bargaining by generating a conducive milieu in this regard. Convention 189 of the ILO also stresses the need to put an end to the practice of forced and compulsory labour; in a nutshell, it ensures protection from all kinds of mental and physical abuse, protection of wages, freedom of movement and belongings. Protecting the personal liberty and freedom of movement of domestic workers in Pakistan may also require legislative work at the level of criminal law. A Pakistan Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights must outline the criminal offences and penalties specifically dealing with the domestic work situation to prohibit employers from engaging in inhumane and degrading conduct. For instance, Ireland’s Code of Practice for Protecting Persons Employed in other People’s Homes, section 5.8 states: “The employer shall not withhold any personal documentation belonging to the employee.” Moreover, it must stipulate that persons below the age of 18 must not be hired as domestic help. If persons below the age of 18 are to be employed as domestic workers, safeguards must be put in place to ensure that they are properly protected. Domestic workers must be given decent remuneration; the bill must state: “Paid household work shall be remunerated at a rate no lower than the national minimum wage, in the case of full-time working hours. Part-time work shall be remunerated at half the rate of the national minimum wage.” Since domestic workers in Pakistan are predominantly women, any act that discriminates against them must be prohibited. Female domestic workers in Pakistan are largely Christian and belong to other minority groups who because of race and sex discrimination are vulnerable to unfair labour practices. The issue of female domestic workers facing discrimination based on pregnancy must be addressed and the bill must include maternity leave. It should also mention the normal hours of work that a domestic worker is expected to undertake, stipulating compensation for overtime work. A domestic worker under this bill must be allowed a day off in a week and be provided weekly rest periods. Lastly, special attention must be given to the living and working conditions of domestic workers, making the owner liable for providing sound accommodation and reasonable food. In Uruguay, a ministry of labour decree regulates employer-provided accommodation and food by stating: “Any employer who hires staff to carry on domestic work on a live-in basis shall provide food and accommodation.” The passage of such a bill requires serious contemplation and measures must be taken to address and bring to an end violence on persons such as Nazir and many others. The rights of such persons must be protected. Change in Pakistan will only take place when we start seeing these workers as human beings deserving of respect and dignity. The writer is a lawyer and a researcher in a think-tank based in Lahore and holds a law degree from the University of London