You Can Do!

Domestic workers can be generally defined as wage-earners who work in a private household. Because their work is performed in private premises of their employers, domestic workers are always excluded from regulations for formal labour sectors and hence their security in the work site is more difficult to ensure. Moreover, with majority of domestic workers workers being women and migrants, it is common in many countries that they become marginalized groups.

Although working as domestic workers in a foreign country provides an alternative for people from the less privileged areas to make a livelihood, staying in foreign countries further exposes domestic workers to exploitation. When they arrive at a foreign country, where they have neither strong social connections nor knowledge about the legal protection they can avail of, domestic workers often have no way or no idea how to complain or seek help if they face exploitation or ill-treatment.

Pope John Paul II has once highlighted our responsibilities to migrant workers, saying that "Institutions in host countries must keep careful watch to prevent the spread of the temptation to exploit foreign labourers, denying them the same rights enjoyed by nationals, rights that are to be guaranteed to all without discrimination." (Pope John Paul II, the 2001 World Day of Peace)

The plight of domestic workers, who are mainly women, further raises the urgent need to ¡§recognize effectively the rights of women in the workplace, especially under the aspect of pay, insurance and social security" Due to gender-discriminatory culture in many places, women are easily "relegated to the margins of society and even reduced to servitude." (Pope John Paul II, Letter to Women). The worrying situation of women is not difficult to find among domestic workers: without external help, most of them are not conscious enough to counter discrimination and exploitation against them.

Actually, alleviation of domestic workers¡¦ predicament can start from ME and YOU! Here are some suggestions for ACTION:

> promote the concept of "Decent Work for Domestic Workers" in church; and
> encourage a respectful and fair treatment for domestic workers among Christians, especially those who employ domestic workers.

For details of the campaign's requests on the Convention, please refer to:
<http://www.mrci.ie/media/File/ILO%20Convention%20Domestic%20Work%20-Global%20Call%20to%20Action.pdf >.


The ILO Conference and the Convention

On the basis of the first discussion in 99th session, the ILO office has drawn up a draft Convention and Recommendation to the governments of all member States. Governments were asked to provide the Office, after consultations with the most representative employers' and workers' organizations, with any proposals for amendments to, or comments on, the text. At the coming 100th Session of the Conference, the Committee will have a convention drafted on the basis of the replies received from governments and from employers ' and workers' organizations and contains the essential points of their replies. The Committee will also have a report which will be the focus of the Committee's discussions, and contains the draft texts of the proposed Convention and Recommendation.

For the proposed text of the Convention, please go to:
<http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/99thSession/reports/lang--en/docName--WCMS_143337/index.htm>

While some governments have given a favourable response in respect to rights of domestic workers, some have expressed otherwise. Below are highlights of some Asian countries' response:

• Myanmar: The new instruments should extend high levels of protection to domestic workers globally.
• India: The right balance needs to be ensured between the protection of the rights of domestic workers and the sensitivities around the issue of the privacy of the individuals employing them. The practicability of the provisions and their enforceability are also a matter to be considered. The text of the proposed instruments is supported, notwithstanding certain reservations in relation to some provisions.
• Japan: It is important that domestic workers enjoy decent work and that the unique nature of domestic work is taken into account when developing new instruments. The instruments should encourage as many countries as possible to make efforts to expand protection for domestic workers. Governments must have enough flexibility to respond to their respective national conditions.
  

The report which includes up-to-date replies from governments is available on <http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/99thSession/reports/lang--en/docName--WCMS_151864/index.htm>.

Sources:
Thematic Group of JPW Meeting 2010 - Woman-in-crisis and
International Labour Office


Sources:
Thematic Group of JPW Meeting 2010 - Woman-in-crisis and
International Labour Office

Yours Sincerely,

Linda Noche

Coordinator

ACPP- Hotline Asia