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Jamaica: Government in Final Stages of Ratifying Domestic Workers Convention

Jamaica: Government in Final Stages of Ratifying Domestic Workers Convention

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by IDWFED published Sep 17, 2016 12:00 AM
Contributors: Shari-Ann Palmer/Jamaica Information Service
Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson, says Government is in the final stages of ratifying the Convention for Decent Work for Domestic Workers, 2011.

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JAMAICA -

Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson, says Government is in the final stages of ratifying the Convention for Decent Work for Domestic Workers, 2011.


Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson,
tables Instruments adopted from the International Labour Organization’s (ILO)
Annual General Conferences in Parliament on Tuesday (September 13).
Photo: Rudranath Fraser

“The matter of accession to C189 is the subject of a recent decision of Cabinet, and is an achievement of which this Ministry, and indeed this Administration, is very proud,” she said.

The Minister was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (September 13), where she tabled nine Instruments adopted from the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Annual General Conferences.

The Domestic Workers Convention was adopted during the 100th session of the ILO held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2011, and entered into force in September 2013.

It is aimed at guaranteeing fundamental labour rights to an estimated 53 million domestic workers worldwide.

Ratifying the Convention could mean better working conditions for Jamaican household workers and ensure adequate compensation. There are an estimated 100,000 household workers in Jamaica.

The Instruments, tabled by Minister Robinson, contain employment policy guidelines to assist ILO member states to achieve sustainable economic development and decent work through job creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.

In an interview with JIS News, Senior Legal Officer in the Ministry, Khadrea Folkes, said the Instruments, which contain Conventions and Recommendations, were brought before Parliament for further decision-making.

Conventions are ratifiable instruments whereas Recommendations are for guidance.

“The constitution of the ILO requires us to bring these instruments to the attention of Parliament, for Parliament to be aware of them and take further decisions as to whether we are going to ratify,” she said.

The Conventions are Occupational Safety and Health, Maritime Labour, and Work in Fishing.

Miss Folkes informed that ratification of these Conventions is awaiting passage of the Occupational Safety and Health legislation. The Bill is being reviewed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and is expected to be tabled in Parliament this year.

Meanwhile, the Recommendations are Human Resources Development Recommendation (R195) 2004; The Employment Relationship Recommendation (R198), 2006; Work in Fishing Recommendation (R199); HIV and AIDS and the Work Recommendation (R200), 2010; Decent Work for Domestic Workers Recommendation (R201); Social Protection Floors Recommendation (R202) 2012, and Forced Labour (Supplementary Measures) Recommendation (R203), 2014.

The HIV and AIDS and the Work recommendations informed the implementation of the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS.

Source: Shari-Ann Palmer/Jamaica Information Service

Story Type: News

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