International Domestic Workers Federation IDWF e-Newsletter #30
DOMESTIC WORKERS AT THE FRONT-LINES
This year, the June 16th International Domestic Workers Day was celebrated all over the world. Despite every kind of challenge under the COVID-19, IDWF affiliates around the world did all they could to make sure that this DAY would not be forgotten. The pandemic hit domestic workers hard. It is now more urgent than ever for governments to ratify and implement the C189.
We thank the ILO for hosting a webinar. Listen to our president Myrtle Witbooi speaking on RadioLabour about the situation of domestic workers under COVID-19 by clicking here.
Peruvian domestic workers unions, Fentrahogarp and Sinttrahol, developed social media campaigns to pressure the Congress to enact a new law for the domestic work sector which should include a minimum wage and other protective measures.
This lead to the Labor and Social Security Committee of the Peruvian Congress voting to rewrite the Domestic Workers’ Law. This rule, which will be discussed by the Congress, is based on the ILO C189 and establishes equal rights, a minimum wage, a regular shift, annual leave, access to social security and full compensations for domestic workers.
During a Zoom meeting organized by the affiliates the Congressman and President of the Labor and Social Security Committee of the Peruvian Congress gave his support and promised to help in promoting the enactment of a new law for the sector as soon as possible.
On the occasion of the 9th anniversary of the adoption of C189 on June 16, SYNEM our affiliate in Guinea celebrated domestic workers and employers. Happy anniversary to all.
FADWU our affiliate in Hong Kong sends solidarity greetings to celebrate IDWD. Clickhere to check it out.
Clickhere and hereto see how our affiliate NDWT in Thailand celebrates IDWD.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT!
Our affiliate FNV is the biggest trade union confederation in the Netherlands with lots of branches. The specific branch related to domestic workers is "FNV Cleaning" - in Dutch: "FNV Schoonmak". Domestic workers, who are all undocumented migrant domestic workers belong to the cleaners' sector in FNV and are represented in the "cleaners' Parliament" of the union.
With the COVID-19 pandemic FNV set up a fund "Aidfund MDW" to support migrant domestic workers who almost completely list their jobs and had no source of income or benefits.
Click here for the crowdfunding initiative inside the Netherlands OR here for people outside of the Netherlands. FNV started a national solidarity petition on the 16th of June to mark IDWD to ask the Dutch government and all political parties to grant MDW residence and civil rights as well as ratify C189.
On the anniversary of the adoption of C190.
IDWF stands with refugees on Refugee Day. Border control and uneven global development not only creates labor inequalities but also exacerbates difference on a citizenship basis. Today, we are thinking of those who are stuck in borders including domestic workers.
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