Latest Updates
UK: A step back into Victorian-era slavery for UK domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 01:43 PMTying the visas of domestic workers to one employer means they will not be able to flee ill treatment for fear of being deported
South Africa: A Reflection on the Ratification Process by Myrtle Witbooi
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 01:52 PMWe have had several meetings in South Africa with our labour caucus, including our Portfolio Committee on Labour, Minister of Labour and some of our political parties. They all support that the Government must ratify convention 189. We all were so exited we could not wait.
Global: Three unionists shared their experiences on domestic workers activities & campains for ratification of ILO instruments
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 01:42 PMSince the adoption in june 2011 of the the Convention 189 (C 189)and the Recommendation 201 (R 201)for domestic workers by government , worker and employer delegates of the ILO, ,Unions in collaborration with ILO-Bureau for Workers Activities (ACTRAV) have many activities for the promotition of these two ILO instruments at the state and regional levels .In the following interwiew, three unionists shared their experiences about this issue. ACTRAV INFO met with Ms. Marieke Koning, Equality Officer at International trade union confederation (ITUC), Ms. Barbro Budin, Gender & Equality Officer and Trade Union Development Officer at International union federation (IUF) and Elizabeth Tang, International Coordinator at International Domestic Workers’ Network (IDWN).
Ireland: Migrant Domestic Workers Call on Government to Ratify ILO Convention
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 06:05 PMHundreds of migrant women employed as domestic workers in Ireland are demanding their dignity on International Women’s Day.
Antigua and Barbuda: Union calls on government to ratify convention 189
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 02:27 PMOn the occasion of International Women's day commemorated today, a trade unionist here has called on government to ratify the ILO Convention 189, which speaks to decent work and domestic workers.
Asia: Urgent Action to urge the Government of the Philippines to ratify C189 within the next 3 months
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 23, 2015 09:52 PMOn March 8, representatives from IDWN, Global Network-Asia, Migrant Forum Asia (MFA) and Amnesty International in Manila, met with the Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines.
Bolivia: Federation of Domestic Workers of Bolivia calls for immediate ratification of C189
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 07, 2015 03:48 PMAlmost one year after its adoption, this convention has not been ratified yet by Bolivia nor by any other country, in spite of having received 396 votes in favor, among them, the one of Bolivia. This norm establishes that millions of domestic workers will be able to have the same basic rights as other workers, including reasonable working hours, weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours, a limit to payments in species, clear information on the terms and the conditions of the employment, as well as the respect to the principles and fundamental labor rights, including those of union freedom and collective negotiation.
Germany: World Day of Prayer 2012 - Prayerful Action for Domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 23, 2015 08:41 PMIn the international ecumenical movement “World Day of Prayer” praying together and acting in solidarity go together: informed prayer and prayerful action. Women active in World Day of Prayer (WDP) work are committed to learn and to strive for wisdom. They are also encouraged to take responsible action that grows out of the worship service and its theme, and that is wisely discerned and appropriate for those who engage in it.
USA: Be The Help - Win Rights and Respect for Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 01:16 PMA Public Statement of the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN) to the Department of Labor of the U. S. government in support of the newly proposed regulations to bring overtime and minimum-wage protections to two million home-care workers in the country, and to provide basic record-keeping protections for live-in domestic workers.
Netherlands: Solidarity Action with the Cleaners and Domestic Workers in The Netherlands
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 04:44 PMIn The Netherlands the domestic workers are also part of the cleaners industry. At the moment they are walking together with the cleaners in the streets for a new collective agreement. They are also covered by it, but only domestic workers under agencies, this time they want to cover also domestic workers under individual employers which is the majority in The Netherlands, Rebeca Pabon reports.
Netherlands: IDWN Solidarity note to the domestic workers and cleaners
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 31, 2016 07:30 PMThe 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!
Global: Domestic Workers Around the World Support JalaPRT, Indonesia
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 08:52 PMWe urge the Indonesian government: to Establish a Law for the Protection of Domestic Workers, to Ratify the ILO Convention 189 and R201 Now.
UK: Unions took it to their heart, says Diana Holland
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 08:59 PMDiana Holland is Chair of the Women’s Committee of the ITUC, the global trade union confederation. The ITUC helped mobilise its affiliated union federations across the world to win C189. Then in mid-December 2011, together with the IDWN, IUF, Human Rights Watch and others, launched the ’12 by 12’ campaign for ratification of C189 by governments in at least twelve countries during 2012. Domestic workers in many countries held public rallies and demonstrations.
Caribbean: Caribbean Domestic Workers Network Launched
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 09:31 PMDomestic workers from across the Caribbean have come together to establish a network dedicated to advancing efforts to ensure that the work of domestic workers is recognised as valid work alongside other catergories of work, and that these employees are treated with dignity and respect.
Saudi Arabia: A story of Ariyawathie, a migrant domestic worker from Sri Lanka
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 21, 2015 06:47 PMMajority of Sri Lankan women who work in the Middle East as migrant workers belong to low income families and are financially instable. They detach themselves from their families and travel abroad for work in hope of realizing dreams and ambitions.
Uruguay: The National Day of Domestic Workers is Celebrated
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 09:35 PMThe Latin American Regional Secretariat of the IUF, saluted all domestic workers on this day in Uruguay, while calling the appropriate authorities to expedite the ratification of Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 of the ILO recently adopted at the 100th International Labour Conference.
Trinidad & Tobago: CAFRA Congratulates NUDE For ILO Victory
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 25, 2015 02:35 PMThe Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (Trinidad and Tobago) congatulated the National Union of Domestic Workers on the historic achievement of a Domestic Worker Convention at the ILO Conference. CAFRA praised the late Clotil Walcott of NUDE, as well as James Lynch, Salisha Ali and Ida Le Blanc, NUDE General Secretary.
USA: Domestic Workers Support Student Strikers at Hershey's
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 09:39 PMDomestic workers from the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) met with student guestworkers who led a factory sit-in because of broken promises and unfair conditions.
Germany: Strengthening Protections for Domestic Workers Report Published
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 05:39 PMHow do we define a landmark event? It has taken some 60 years, but in June 2011 the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted a global convention setting forth the fundamental rights of domestic workers, and the obligation of governments worldwide to protect them.
Germany: Diplomatic Immunity Poses Threat to Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 25, 2015 02:46 PMDiplomatic immunity was originally meant to protect embassy personnel from arbitrary harassment. But a new case in Berlin, involving the alleged abuse of an Indonesian domestic worker, makes it clear that human rights sometimes get lost in the shuffle. The case could go to Germany's highest court.
USA: AFL-CIO Partners with Domestic Workers Alliance - Call for Domestic Worker Representatives at ILC
— by IDWFED — last modified Jun 10, 2019 03:33 PMIn a historic move, the AFL-CIO signed a new partnership agreement with the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
USA: TUCA Publishes Support for Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified May 03, 2016 06:20 PMOn May 1 women workers in the Americas mobilized to demand from governments and business the responses needed to assure passage of the new agreement “Decent Work for Domestic Workers” at the next International Labour Conference.
Italy: Feast Day of Zita on 27 April - Patron of Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Nov 26, 2015 03:21 PMOn 27 april Saint Zita (1212–1272) is commemorated as saint patron of domestic workers. If the Holy See in Vatican City had become member of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the ratification of its Convention 189 surely would have taken place on that very day.
Indonesia: President Calls for an End to Export of Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 03:07 PMPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia should stop sending workers overseas for placement in the informal sector, in particular as domestic workers. Yudhoyono has established a team to evaluate countries that do not provide sufficient protection to Indonesian workers. These countries could face a moratorium on labor exports from Indonesia.
Guatamala: First domestic workers union formed
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 03:22 PMThe first union for domestic workers in the history of Guatamala, SITRODOMSA, was formed in April, 2011.
Indonesia: Jala PRT files lawsuit against government for failing to protect domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 03:12 PMActivists have submitted a citizen lawsuit against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his aides and the House of Representatives, for failing to protect domestic workers in the country and abroad. "This lawsuit signals that we want stronger protection for our domestic workers," the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT) coordinator, Lita Anggraini, told The Jakarta Post after filing the lawsuit at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.
Zambia: New Minimum Wage for Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 25, 2015 03:56 PMFor the first time, the Zambian government has set a minimum wage for domestic workers. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security arrived at the minimum wage after consultation with stakeholders, including employers and employees. “Despite their importance, domestic workers are the most exploited and abused in the country, needless to say that they are often underworked and underpaid,” explained Minister Austin Liato.
Indonesia: Understanding Indonesian domestic workers' rights
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 03:28 PMAn article in the Jakarta Globe explores the four basic elements that must be considered to fully understand the specific conditions affecting domestic workers. The author, Faishol Adib, argues that a firm understanding of the plight of domestic workers is necessary to ensure an effective Domestic Workers' Convention.
Switzerland: Domestic Workers protected by the Country’s first Sectoral Employment Contract
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 03:54 PMThe Swiss union UNIA has convinced the Swiss government to establish the country's first sectoral employment contract for domestic workers. Also called NAVs, these agreements are designed for sectors in which collective agreements cannot be reached.
Global: Reversing a History of Exclusion through International Labour Law
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 03:42 PMClaire Hobden, a junior project officer at the ILO, addressed the necessary legal protections sought by domestic workers, and the value of the standard-setting process.