National Domestic Workers’ Day
Domestic workers are the unsung heroes of our society. In most households, both parents are out of the home working during the day, and they rely heavily on their domestic workers. With tenacity and drive, many domestic workers have successfully looked after and educated their families.
South Africa’s first Domestic Workers’ Day was launched in July 2012 by Sizile Makola, CEO of My Claim Mate, a business that provides human resources and payroll services for employers of domestic workers. The company assists employers of domestic workers to be compliant with labour laws. She says that the National Domestic Workers’ Day will help raise awareness of the work domestic workers do. “They are the people we entrust with our homes and our children, but who are often invisible. In the same way that annually we recognize the work of secretaries, I believe we should do the same for domestic workers,” she says.
To recognize these hard workers, My Claim Mate has launched the Domestic Worker of the Year Award. Sponsored by the Sheraton Hotel, The Star, Liberty and Blue Sage. Employers of domestic workers are encouraged to nominate their employee for this prestigious award. Nominations are available at www.domesticworkersday.co.za.
The overall winner will enjoys a 1 night stay for two at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria. By nominating, employers and their domestic workers stand a chance to be invited to attend the Nation Domestic Workers’ Day event on the 27th July 2013 at the Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria where they will be treated to empowering and educational talks delivered by the sponsors.
“As Sadsawu we are proud to be part of this important day, We sincerely hope that employers will come on board and show their domestic helper how important she or he is to them,” says Myrtle Witbooi, the General Secretary for the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union and president of the International Domestic Workers Network.
For more details feel free to contact Sizile Makola: 083 786 2489
