Empirical Assessment for the Domestic Worker Housing: A Case Study of Lahore

Abstract

A house is considered a basic human need. It provides identity, security, belonging, and privacy. Regrettably, Pakistan is facing a housing backlog of almost 10 million units. This research aims to diagnose the problems related to accommodation that domestic workers are facing and to assess the pragmatic options for housing the labor class groups. Data for this research was collected from the residents, domestic workers, and relevant authorities through a structured questionnaire survey in selected case study areas. The dependent variable in the study is the provision of accommodation to the domestic workers, which needs to be calculated. The predictors or independent variables are affordability of domestic workers’ residence, salary, housing provision, financial status, and role of government. The results reveal that when “provision of housing allowance” to the domestic workers will help in overcoming the problem of housing available to the workers Its value goes up by 1, “provision of residence to domestic workers at nearby places” increases by 0.518 Similarly, “provision of nearby residence increases the work efficiency” goes up to 1, “provision of residence to domestic workers at nearby places” goes up by the value 0.118. Analysis revealed that workers’ work efficiency depends upon, Government and financial support from the people. The findings of the study/research analysis revealed that most domestic workers are being deprived of livable housing and have to bear significant travel expenses to reach their workplaces. There is a dire need to form a government-based strong association for the domestic worker which would work for the betterment of domestic workers to improve their quality of life. The government and private developers should increase the supply of low-income housing in the form of vertical growth development. It can be pertinent to propose that housing opportunities have to be placed close to the vicinity of workplaces to reduce the travel cost bear by domestic workers.