ILO Convention after 63 years

Upholding the Rights and Dignity of Domestic Workers:
an ILO Convention after 63 years
Migrant Forum in Asia

9 June 2011

Geneva, Switzerland

The Realities of Migrant Domestic Workers

On June 7th at 9:15pm, we celebrated the adoption of the draft provisions of the ILO Convention on
Domestic Work by the Committee on Domestic Work. That moment was a milestone in a 63-year long
struggle to secure the rights of this highly vulnerable group of workers. Yet alongside this triumph is the
harsh reality that exists for many domestic workers throughout the world who suffer grave abuses on a
daily basis. As we celebrate this moment, we must not lose sight of the fact that there is a long road ahead
to ensure that domestic workers are protected; their rights, now enshrined in Convention form, must be
defended and strengthened.
Many migrant domestic workers face harsh realities on a daily basis. Their conditions of work are
unregulated, many are abused and mistreated by their employers, and they live in isolation – behind the
closed doors of private family homes, beyond the reach of labour inspectors and state authorities. Many
are beaten, and many die. They are not covered by the labour laws of the countries in which they work,
they are paid low wages, they do not enjoy social protection, and their contributions to both their host and
home societies go unrecognized and unappreciated. Until this moment, they have been marginalized and
alone.
The ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011
Perhaps the greatest achievement of this convention is that domestic workers are finally officially
recognized by the international community as workers, just like any other workers. This venue has
brought together domestic workers from across the world, in solidarity with one another, reaffirming that
they are not alone. It has raised worldwide consciousness of their plight, and their important place in the
world of work.
The Domestic Workers Convention bestows upon domestic workers, including migrant domestic workers,
most of whom are women and girls, the same labour rights and standards as are extended to any other
workers. The Convention recognizes, among others, that domestic workers have the right to join and form
trade unions; to be informed of their terms of employment, including hours of work, compensation, rest
days; to retain their travel and identity documents; to work in safe and healthy workplaces subject to
labour inspection; to social protection benefits, including maternity benefits; and the right not to be subject
to mandatory HIV testing as is the current practice in many countries.
Steps Forward
While we anticipate the adoption of a strong convention supplemented by a recommendation, the situation
of domestic workers, and migrant domestic workers, will not change overnight. The members of Migrant
Forum in Asia have much work to do, now that these international standards have been set.
Migrant Forum in Asia will spread the news of this important
Convention among our networks, raising awareness among
domestic workers and those who advocate for their rights, and what
this means for us.
We will assist domestic workers in organizing themselves to
demand the rights enshrined in the Convention; to unite, to bargain
collectively, and to dialogue with other social partners and labour
organizations to claim their rights at the national and international
levels.
We will continue to lobby our governments through sustained
dialogue to ensure that national legislation reflects the provisions
stipulated in the Convention.
This moment is significant: the Convention brings workers of the
informal sector into the formal sector for the first time. This
represents a ray of hope for others working in the informal sector,
that the potential exists for their rights to be protected as well.
Domestic work is work! Domestic workers are workers! Domestic work is not slavery!
Press Conference Panelists, MFA Members
Sr. Lissy Joseph
National Domestic Workers Movement, India
Ellene Sana
Center for Migrant Advocacy, Philippines
Hessen El Sayah
Caritas Lebanon Migrant Centre, Lebanon
Contact Person
William Gois, Regional Coordinator
Migrant Forum in Asia
mfa@pacific.net.hk
+41 774 239 782