Domestic Workers in Karnataka: The Battle for Decent Pays & Working Conditions Still Goes on

The battle of domestic workers in Karnataka for fair pay and working conditions is over 20 years old. However, even at the ascribed minimum pay, the average domestic worker’s pays are not enough even to fulfill the food requirements of the average family, let alone other requirements, compelling women and small girls to toil for all seven days a week in many households.

The split between the two Indias is clearly evident at this close interface amongst the haves and the have-nots, between overseer and domestic help within a household. Domestic workers in the country normally work all seven days a week, 365 days annually. In majority cases, an off, if any, is given unwillingly and is normally unpaid. Not only this, there is no parameter as to how their pays are fixed for a specific work and employers also keep on adding more tasks to the given ones.

Another major thing that workers share is about a separate plate and tumbler maintained for them, how they are not enabled to touch the utensils in which the employer’s food is stored, how few women employers rinse all the utensils washed by the house maids once more with tamarind cleanse them, how the domestic works are not alleged to enter the kitchen or worship place. Caste discrimination remains as powerful as ever.

Domestic workers require being identified as workers and treated in a kind and respectful manner. Moreover they should be given more wages as working in a single home does not pay sufficient, and multiple domestic workers are caught in a routine swirl attempting to work in four-five households to make ends meet.

The backbreaking battle of domestic workers in Karnataka for fair wages and working conditions is about 2 decades ago. Domestic help was incorporated in Karnataka under the Schedule of the Minimum Wages Act in 1992 and then secretly eliminated in the year 1993. Fresh battles made sure its admittance once more in the year 2001 and in a developing measure in the country, pays were fixed in March 2004. However, research finds that the domestic worker’s wages were unmindfully intricate, puzzling and insufficient. The minimum wage notification particulates the following for a six-day week: one for a job for 45 minutes per day should get Rs 249, one hour jobs, Rs 299, and a full 8-hour day Rs. 1699 (for entire month); 10% more for families containing more than four members, and overtime at double rate of wage. The study showed that the beliefs of 45 minutes each job and a six-day were wrong.

However the Supreme Court has taken down arguments in several cases on minimum wages by announcing that minimum pays touch upon all alike, and have to be remunerated regardless of the type of establishment, potential to pay and accessibility of domestic workers at reduced wages, that the employer carries no right to acquit his enterprise of he cannot remunerate his employee a minimal employment wage and that non-payment of minimum pay is bonded labor falling under Article 23 of Indian Constitution. Research have depicted that availability of employment is not based in the level of pays and that reducing pays does not necessarily result in increased employment rate.

The Conditions Are Now Perfect To Switch To Cisco Phone Systems

For a long time now most business owners have known Cisco is the best when it comes to switching equipment and phone systems. The cost made this “Rolls Royce” solution out of reach for most small and medium business.

The great news is that this has now changed.

Around 5 years ago, Cisco introduced the Smart Business Communications solution using the UC520 for small and medium business. This solution had all the “bells and whistles” of a top end Cisco solution at a competitive price.

The UC520 was still out of the reach of most small businesses with between 4 -16 end users. This was partly due to customers already having an existing data network and only having basic phone system requirements.

Cisco has now introduced the UC320. The major change is that this solution is targeted for a single site customer. This has allowed Cisco to significantly reduce the price of the system but retain all the inherent benefits of a Cisco solution. This has made the UC320 extremely good value and cheaper than most of its competitors whilst retaining all the features that a small business could possible use.

Target Customer Profile

The sweet spot for the UC320 is between 4 – 16 users. The solution is perfect for any business that;

· Requires a basic telephone system – Key System or PBX, or

· Greenfield or Key System replacement

Most businesses would benefit from voicemail, hunt group or auto attendant. This was previously out of reach on all other brands due to cost. These features are standard on the UC320. This solution stands apart from almost all of its competitors when it comes to data integration (wired and wireless). The UC320 is a unified communications system that brings together voice, data, and wireless communications. The key purchase decision factor for small business is price and service.

Benefits

The UC320 is designed and built specifically for Small Business.

· It is a unified communications system that brings together voice, data, and wireless communications

· Comes with an enhanced communications feature set at no extra charge

· Affordable, easy to install and use

· Delivers reliable, business-class performance

· Delivered and supported by Cisco, a trusted brand and the world leader in networking and communications

What’s under the Hood

The UC320 provides the following;

· 1 to 24 IP Telephones

· VoIP capable

· Up to 12 PSTN trunks (4 built-in)

· Up to 8 BRI trunks

· Key System and PBX mode

· Day/Night Ring mode

· Automated Attendant (2×9 menu)

· Internal Voice Mail

· Voice to email notification with audio file

· Music on Hold – Internal or external

· Business Call Control Features (Shared Line Call Appearance, Call Forwarding etc.)

Summary

The conditions are now perfect to upgrade your communications infrastructure to the Cisco brand. This solution is designed specifically for single site small businesses with up to 25 users. Cisco has set the price point of this solution to come well under its competitors with similar features. If you put this together with the high Australian Dollar, there has never been a better time to make the switch to CISCO.

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