BE calls on candidates to sign manifesto for domestic workers

The head of the BE list in this Sunday’s European elections called on other candidates to sign a manifesto defending the rights of domestic workers, because if “the world cannot live without cleanliness, it cannot humiliate those who clean.”

In the middle of the Quinta das Conchas garden in Lisbon, the sounds of music from the Cape Verdean group Batucadeiras Bandeirinhas da Boba, made up of female housekeepers, encouraged those who passed by and those who listened to them.

“We will put up with all this for the sake of this penny to raise our children. It is sad. Our life is bad, we don’t have a decent right for some people who clean apartments, parliaments, hospitals. No one can live without cleaning, so we have to take into account who cleans, but we don’t recognize that,” warned Ilda Vaz, one of the drummers who, with her microphone raised, uses music as a form of protest.

In April, blocker Anabela Rodrigues, who held Marisa Mathias’ seat in the European Parliament for several months and is now running again as “number three” on the Europeans’ BE list, took three women domestic workers to Strasbourg.

He then called on MEPs to sign a manifesto that, among other commitments, advocates new legislation guaranteeing the rights of domestic workers over other categories of workers and measures to combat discrimination against these professionals, who are overwhelmingly women and often immigrants.

“The world cannot live without cleanliness; it cannot humiliate those who clean. We need that respect, it is primarily women’s work, it is work that is not respected, and our commitment is that these women have the same rights as any other worker. “, defended Katharina Martins, head of the BE list for Europeans.

The blockade member called on the remaining candidates to join this manifesto, lamenting that “when it comes to labor rights and women’s rights, unfortunately there are not many parties capable of making a commitment.”

When asked if she would like to see “number three” on the list, Anabela Rodriguez, elected, Catarina Martins again did not set election goals.

“We go into this election with great humility, we will get the votes we deserve, we know Anabela’s work is outstanding and our commitment to this work is absolute,” he responded.

Maria Varela has been a domestic worker for 24 years and was one of the women who flew to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to share her story and advocate for the rights of the many women she knows.

“I have no reason to complain, but a lot of people do. This is my fight because this is not for me, this is for others. Sometimes they don’t get a discount, they don’t have a decent job, they cry because they’re fed up, they complain all the time, and I say: when you first come to work, you have to state your rights, I have my rights and my responsibilities , I defend both,” he said.

Maria Varela advises these women to read everything that is written in the contract they sign: “You have to read everything, woman, if you don’t have glasses, put on a magnifying glass,” she joked.

The reason is close to BE’s “number three candidate” in these European elections, Anabela Rodriguez, the daughter of a domestic worker who died “with a very small pension.”

The Blokist calls on other parties to sign this manifesto, since this reality “affects not only the left, but also the right and center, and will actually lead to equality of rights.”