Conversations with and about domestic workers

A conversation I had this morning: "The caretakers in our village have 6 sons and, as early as they were 10 - 12 years old, they were earning money for the family. One boy was working in a restaurant and would be paid in food. Another boy was feeding the neighbours' animals and would bring in 10,000 per month. Another boy working in another business and making another 8,000 per month."

A few days ago, the new mali, Muhammad Atta, told me his son died after a prolonged infection with a leg which was hurt in an accident. I asked him how many more children he has. He has 5 other kids.

The mali before this , Genghis, had a job with the Metro bus that would start at 3 pm. He would come in once a week on Mondays in the mornings from 9 to 12 PM and leave in time to pick up his son from school and, then proceed to his job. 

The housekeeper or 'kaam wali' , Razia, has had to move houses at least 3 times in less than 2 years because the houses are demolished by the authorities or some other problem comes up. In at least one instance, her family had to move because the Armed Forces are going to take over the year and, have been paid off by those who own property there. She had to move as her landlord had been paid off and, the house was going to be demolished. In this house, she was paying only 5,000/month. This was near D-12. She moved to a single room with her family (1 husband, 3 children) but there was no running water. She moved as her husband's 'jaane walay' from back home in the village agreed to rent a house together for 15,000 per month. Hardly a a couple weeks later, the 'jaane walay' went back to the village (the husband didn't want to stay , the wife had managed to get a job as a domestic worker) leaving them in the lurch. Now they are looking for another option. 

Razia apparently was working with a good family in Chak Shahzad who gifted tablets to her children. The family had even given 100,000 to her husband to set up a shop but he messed up the business. She is the one who was able to purchase a motorcycle and mobile phone for her husband through her consistent earnings working as a domestic worker. She has often shared how violent her husband is. Her husband, Imran, is a barber and his income is inconsistent. He sets up shop on roadsides or under trees. The one thing he does do is take care of the kids. They are with him while she is working. 

Razia is pretty adamant her children should be schooled in the city. She is very proud she managed to get her daughters in school. Why doesn't she and her family think of going back to the village where they have their own land? No schooling options. Her husband's family is going to sell some land and, Imran will make a pakka house with his share. 

There are two other workers in our house employed through a company. Like everyone else, they have links back home in rural spaces. They make more money but are vulnerable to medical crises just like everyone else.