 News
Global Network calls for decent work for domestic workers
[03/06/2010]
This month, domestic workers rights activists from all around the world have gathered at the 99th International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference in Geneva to call for a binding convention to be adopted ensuring decent work for these workers. The adoption of a binding Convention on Domestic Workers Rights would be a first step towards the acknowledgement of the rights of millions of domestic workers who have been invisible for too long and who take care of our houses, our elderly people and our children.
Domestic workers make up a large portion of the workforce. In developing countries they account for 4 to 10 per cent of total employment, in industrialised countries the figure ranges between 1 and 2.5 per cent of total employment. A big percentage of these workers are women. Nevertheless, domestic work is undervalued and poorly regulated, and many domestic workers remain overworked, underpaid and unprotected, which is particularly true for migrant domestic workers.
Elizabeth Tang from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and Co-chair of the Global Network was present at the conference with a delegation of domestic workers organisers from Asia. The Global Network is calling for an ILO Convention on Domestic Workers Rights which should include at least: the recognition of equal rights for all workers; the right to organise; social protection coverage; access to a basic social security package and equal rights for migrant workers and nationals. GN Leaflet | ILO Report on domestic workers
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