You are here: Home / Activities / Ghana: Ratify ILO C189 to give more power to domestic workers
Ghana: Ratify ILO C189 to give more power to domestic workers

Ghana: Ratify ILO C189 to give more power to domestic workers

Comments
by IDWFED published Mar 09, 2017 12:00 AM
The 2017 commemoration of International Women’s Day 2017 has been used by domestic workers in Ghana to call on the government to speedily ratify ILO Convention 189 so as to have more power as working women.
When
Mar 09, 2017 (Universal / UTC0)
Web
Visit external website
Add event to calendar
iCal

 

GHANA -

The 2017 commemoration of International Women’s Day 2017 has been used by domestic workers in Ghana to call on the government to speedily ratify ILO Convention 189 so as to have more power as working women.

The occasion was also used to call for the speedy passage of the Labour Regulations (Domestic Workers) 2016 by the Parliament of Ghana.

At an event to mark the day in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday March 9, 2017, on the theme “More Women, More Power! Breaking down Barriers. Winning Safety, Security & Equality @ Work” participants comprising mainly of Domestic Workers and Head load Porters (Kayeyei), shared their experiences on Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

2017-3-9 Ghana: Ratify ILO C189 to give more power to domestic workers

The stories they shared indicated that there was still a great need for the country to ratify C189 and C183, and therefore have put their signatures to a petition to be forwarded to the government through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, for the necessary action to be taken.

Speaking at the event organized by the IUF Africa Regional Coordinator, Sister Adwoa Sakyi, many of the participants recounted stories of maltreatment meted out to them by their employers depicting that the issues that culminated in the adoption of the C189 are still prevalent in the peculiar employment situation of domestic workers.

Issues such as lack of respect and recognition as workers with rights; denial to rest periods; no leave of work; lack of proper sleeping places; inflictions of physical bodily harm; no payment for work done; and sexual harassment, among others.

One young lady told of how her head was hit against a wall resulting in head injury and that though she was attended to at the hospital, she suffers headache to this day.

2017-3-9 Ghana: Ratify ILO C189 to give more power to domestic workers
A domestic worker sharing her story

Aside wrongful terminations and being given food which in most cases are fit for animals to consume, domestic workers, based on the manner some are employed, are promised by their employers that they would be supported to continue their education; only for them to later realize that such promises were only deceptions.

A few of the participants also shared positive stories of how their employers were treating them good regarding their food, helping to receive medical treatment when sick, as well as giving them rest periods, among other goodies.

Speaking on the purpose of the event, Sister Adwoa Sakyi noted that it was time for domestic workers and head load porters to be appreciated for their tremendous contributions to the economic and social development in Ghana and other parts of the world.

She said the theme for the commemoration demanded that the women within the two areas of work see themselves as one so that they can have more to overcome the challenges they encounter in their daily work.

In her welcome address, Sister Esther Kosi, the General Secretary of Domestic Services Workers Union (DSWU), urged members of the union to have hope that the ills that are being perpetuated against domestic workers and head porters by virtue of their work would become a past issue when government is able to pass the new regulations on domestic work.

In their usual camaraderie despite the challenges of their work, participants numbering over ninety (90) 0f which seventy (70) being women, were hale and hearty as they interspersed the event with various songs including the Workers Convocation Song.

2017-3-9 Ghana: Ratify ILO C189 to give more power to domestic workers
Group photo after the event with some participants holding cards highlighting their issues

blog comments powered by Disqus