Deputy Speaker, domestic workers are an important group in South Africa. Among the army of women who keep up the nation's homes and families and, ultimately, the wellbeing of many households by working as domestics are many who are not afforded the same rights as other workers. Domestic workers do not have the same level of protection when they are sick or injured and they are not covered by the International Labour Organisation convention for domestic workers, which South Africa has yet to sign.
Domestic workers are the unsung heroes of our country and yet they are sometimes treated as second-class citizens by our labour dispensation. If other workers become injured or disabled at work, they are protected by the Compensation Fund and receive pension payouts to compensate for losses of income.
To remedy this, the DA will continue to seek an amendment to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Act 130 of 1993, in order to expand the Compensation Fund's coverage to include domestic workers. We have formulated a comprehensive plan that would expand the rights of domestic workers. It would mean that whenever a domestic worker became injured or disabled because of their work, they would be eligible for compensation for their medical expenses and compensation for income, and could potentially receive punitive damages if employers had been negligent.
The implications for domestic workers are profound. It is shocking that government has failed for many years to act in support of domestic workers, who deserve the same protection as everyone else. The DA will continue to drive this issue until we see action.