Netherlands: IDWN Solidarity note to the domestic workers and cleaners
Details
NETHERLANDS -
International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN)
c/o
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers'
Associations (IUF)
Rampe du Point Rouge 8
CH-1213 Petit Lancy
IDWN Solidarity note to the domestic workers and cleaners in the Netherlands
The International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN) is watching with great interest the events in the Netherlands. For the second year, the cleaners and domestic workers have to go on strike in order to achieve an acceptable collective agreement for the industry. We are very proud that the Dutch domestic workers are part of this important struggle!
Far too long cleaners were left behind in terms of wages and decent working conditions in general. The conditions for domestic workers are even worse, as they are excluded from basic labour rights and access to social protection.
We acknowledge the approach of the Dutch cleaning employers association "De Ondernemersorganisatie Schoonmaak- en Bedrijfsdiensten", OSB, which recognizes domestic workers as workers and thus enables protection under the existing collective agreement for those who are employed by agencies .
However, this is not enough! The vast majority of domestic workers are having individual employers. Many of the domestic workers are undocumented migrant workers who do not enjoy basic human and labour rights. This has to stop!
For the first time in history an international treaty for the protection of all domestic workers was adopted at the International Labour Conference in June 2011. The ILO Convention C189 provides adequate protection for all domestic workers, no matter what their immigration status is and no matter who the employer is.
All Dutch delegates to the ILO Conference in June 2011 in Geneva: the government, the workers and the employers representatives voted in favour of the Convention!
Now, this international treaty needs to be put in practice. We support our brothers and sisters in the Netherlands in their demands for ratification of the ILO Convention C189 and for implementation through appropriate national laws. This means no more and not less, that domestic workers can enjoy the same labour rights as any other workers in the Netherlands.
We wish FNV Bondgenoten, the strong organization of the cleaners and domestic workers in the Netherlands, a successful outcome of your strike and negotiations.
Domestic Workers unite – in the Netherlands and in the world!
Domestic workers worldwide stand at your side – your struggle is our struggle!
In solidarity, on behalf of the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN)
Elizabeth Tang
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