In the past, many tenants were forced to do unpaid domestic work for landlords. This labour was compulsory and unquestioned, rooted in a feudal system.
Refusal often led to punishment, and the landlord’s work took priority over the tenant’s own needs. In reality, this was bonded labour. When payment was given, it was often insulting”just tea powder or a small quantity of rice.Domestic workers lived in poverty, with no alternatives. Some also faced sexual exploitation and suffered in silence due to fear and lack of support.
It would be unfair to blame all landlords. Some treated workers with respect and paid humane wages.
Still, exploitation continued for generations, mainly affecting the uneducated and poor. Gradually, change has come through free education, protective laws, and the efforts of activists. One inspiring example is of a landlord family supporting a domestic worker’s child through higher education, transforming a life. Such acts show true humanity and deserve respect.
