The Children-Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWISH), which advocates for the rights of children and women, hopes that the scheme would discourage the practice of keeping poor children as domestic helps.[break]
Several studies have shown that underaged children with poor family background have been engaged in hard labor at well-off homes in the capital. "We have replaced 16 young domestic helps with trained maids," said Pradeep Dangol, a child right officer at CWISH. He said the organization provided training to the mothers of the children and sent them to do the work their children had been doing.
The organization said that it has reached an understanding with several families served by child labors.
"We offered skilled manpower instead of child labor," said Dangol, adding, "Employers will not only be saved from allegations of exploiting children but also get trained servant." He said that some women work part time and make additional money by serving two three houses.
The law prohibits keeping children as domestic helps and has set punishments.
The organization said its scheme would ensure jobs for unemployed women and free their children from hard labor. The organization is also working to provide educational support to those children.
Dangol said that unemployed women can apply for housemaid´s job at Active Domestic Worker Consultancy. The consultancy charges 10 percent from the first month´s salary as fee.
"We don´t charge the unemployed women for the vocational training we provide to them. We provide them the necessary skills free of cost," added Dangol.
Meanwhile, the organization, which had launched family reunification program for young domestic helps a month ago, said that 48 children serving well-off families in the capital have returned to their villages. The organization has encouraged the children toiling as domestic helps in the capital to return their homes and has also assured them of educational support. Dangol said that such program will ensure love and care of family to the children.
Hundreds of children from the districts adjoining the capital have been toiling as domestic helps in the capital. A study conducted by International Labor Organization (ILO) on 2003 estimated that about 21,000 domestic helps have been working in the capital.
Studies have also shown that such children are denied their basic rights and some have been victims of sexual abuses.
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