International Domestic Workers Federation IDWF e-Newsletter #35
DOMESTIC WORKERS AT THE FRONT-LINES
To commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons IDWF launched a Tweetathon on July 30, during which a discussion on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor took place.
Affiliates, allies, partners and funders were invited to join the conversation.
We talked about:
How does human trafficking mostly affect women?
Is there anything missing from the definition of forced labor? What is it?
Why forced labour and/or fair recruitment of migrant workers, including domestic workers, are important issues, especially under COVID-19?
What mechanisms are there in your sector/country to fight trafficking?
Our Policy Brief Recommendations for Domestic Workers under COVID-19:
While contexts are diverse across the regions, the core demands of domestic workers movements are the same and resonate with one another. Aside the urgent alleviation of the COVID-19 induced hardships, they look into the deeper-seated injustices, to make sustainable change towards the alleviation of economic and gender inequalities of the sector. The recommendations are as follows:
Protective Measures
Enforce paid leaves with provision of food and accommodation for domestic workers who are in quarantine. Enforce paid sick leaves for workers who contracted the virus.
Issue domestic worker specific guidelines on working during COVID-19.
Engage domestic workers in dialogue with trade unions, employers, and other organizations to design emergency policies in a participatory and informed manner to respond to COVID-19.
Provide effective means and procedures for DWs to report labor abuses, unfair dismissals and violations of their rights, through the ministries of labor and domestic workers unions and groups.
Use international standards, namely C189 and C190, as frameworks of reference in order to guarantee equal labor rights and freedom from harassment for DWs.
Monitor employers through reinforcements of direct inspections and legal and financial consequences if the employers fail to provide food, water, protective gear and necessary hygienic products to the workers.
Domestic Workers’ voices in Indonesia are being neglected; the long overdue Domestic Workers Protection Bill has not been endorsed.
The Indonesian House of Representatives decided to postpone the deliberation of the decade long proposed Domestic Workers Protection Bill. Domestic workers (DW) and activists were hopeful of the possibility of endorsement of this bill, however the Speakers of the House did not endorse it as an initiative of The House in the July 16 plenary.
IDWF affiliate, JALA PRT (The National Network for DW Advocacy) has been striving to fight for this bill for 16 years. It contains several key provisions, including a provision on direct and indirect recruitment. It also grants DWs the right to decent working hours, a day off consisting of uninterrupted 24 hours, annual leaves and social protection, including health, work accident and old age insurance. It also regulates criminal provisions to protect DWs from discrimination, exploitation, harassment and violence by employers and placement agencies.
IDWF and JALA PRT deeply regret the postponing of this bill that left almost 5 million DWs in the country unprotected. DWs and their families are among the marginalized communities that are living in poverty. The government can no longer neglect and put the fates of the 5 million people afloat.
“This is now the time that we put an end to discrimination against DWs and move away from feudal perspective.” Said Lita Anggraini from JALA PRT.
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