The South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) was launched in the light of the reality that the existing labour laws, introduced by the new democratic government of the South Africa, were not extended to domestic workers. SADSAWU therefore felt the need to create a strong and viable union for this sector, one of the most exploited, to ensure that not only were the rights and demands of domestic workers met but also to guarantee these vulnerable men and women a voice in the drafting of future labour legislation which will include this sector.
As early as 1948, with the reinforcement of the Apartheid state, domestic workers, both those working inside a dwelling as well as those working outside, for example gardeners, were exploited and the social engineering system of Apartheid ensured that people were forced into this exploitative market. During this time, the Master and Servants Act proved to provide more protection for the advantaged party (the “master”) than the exploited worker (“servant”). The (domestic) worker had no voice, no rights and no recourse and therefore this made them utterly vulnerable to the whims and desires of the master. It was legal slavery.
Yet it was only from about 1977 that the domestic worker sector started to show signs of becoming organized. These women laid the foundations for domestic workers to take up the challenge of trying to improve their lives and working conditions. In 1984, the first domestic union was formed and this union started working on the improvement of the living and working conditions of its workers. Sadly, in 1998, this organization the South African Domestic Workers Union (SADWU) had to fold because of financial constraints. It must be noted, given that domestic workers are some of the least paid workers in the country that the union struggled to remain strong. There was no doubt that external (financial) intervention was needed in order to keep this voice of vulnerable workers audible.
Fortunately, domestic workers were resolute in their determination to have a voice and as a result a group of workers decided to form a new union. In 2000, the SADSAWU was launched in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal and thus a new flame was once again lit in the fight to mobilize, educate and ensure that the new labour laws of the new South Africa were extended to include these workers, some of them the most ill-used in the modern economy.
However, even today in free and democratic South Africa, with its liberal and world renowned Constitution, domestic workers have found it difficult to propagate their cause. This was due to the fact that even, for example, those who entered big business as well as the new government became employers of domestic workers and it was easy for them to forget and silence these workers who kept their families together while these new leaders of business and government ran the country and/or economy.
Today, after many campaigns, demonstrations and petitions domestic workers are now covered and can fully enjoy the benefits of the labour laws. Yet the struggle continues. There remains a long road ahead in ensuring that domestic workers are educated in their rights and enjoy these rights. Simultaneously, workers must be given the freedom to inform their employer of their desire to join the union as well as to guarantee the universal recognition of domestic work as a valuable workforce in the modern economy.
As early as 1948, with the reinforcement of the Apartheid state, domestic workers, both those working inside a dwelling as well as those working outside, for example gardeners, were exploited and the social engineering system of Apartheid ensured that people were forced into this exploitative market. During this time, the Master and Servants Act proved to provide more protection for the advantaged party (the “master”) than the exploited worker (“servant”). The (domestic) worker had no voice, no rights and no recourse and therefore this made them utterly vulnerable to the whims and desires of the master. It was legal slavery.
Yet it was only from about 1977 that the domestic worker sector started to show signs of becoming organized. These women laid the foundations for domestic workers to take up the challenge of trying to improve their lives and working conditions. In 1984, the first domestic union was formed and this union started working on the improvement of the living and working conditions of its workers. Sadly, in 1998, this organization the South African Domestic Workers Union (SADWU) had to fold because of financial constraints. It must be noted, given that domestic workers are some of the least paid workers in the country that the union struggled to remain strong. There was no doubt that external (financial) intervention was needed in order to keep this voice of vulnerable workers audible.
Fortunately, domestic workers were resolute in their determination to have a voice and as a result a group of workers decided to form a new union. In 2000, the SADSAWU was launched in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal and thus a new flame was once again lit in the fight to mobilize, educate and ensure that the new labour laws of the new South Africa were extended to include these workers, some of them the most ill-used in the modern economy.
However, even today in free and democratic South Africa, with its liberal and world renowned Constitution, domestic workers have found it difficult to propagate their cause. This was due to the fact that even, for example, those who entered big business as well as the new government became employers of domestic workers and it was easy for them to forget and silence these workers who kept their families together while these new leaders of business and government ran the country and/or economy.
Today, after many campaigns, demonstrations and petitions domestic workers are now covered and can fully enjoy the benefits of the labour laws. Yet the struggle continues. There remains a long road ahead in ensuring that domestic workers are educated in their rights and enjoy these rights. Simultaneously, workers must be given the freedom to inform their employer of their desire to join the union as well as to guarantee the universal recognition of domestic work as a valuable workforce in the modern economy.
