ILO passes landmark treaty to protect domestic workers

GENEVA – The International Labour Organisation yesterday passed a landmark treaty giving protection to an estimated 52,6 million domestic workers across the world.

The new convention would ensure domestic workers enjoyed conditions ‘not less favourable’ than other workers, requiring governments to ensure they understood their rights, preferably through written contracts.The document also offers domestic workers a full rest day every week, and prevents them being required to remain with an employer’s household during their annual leave or rest days.The convention, which was adopted with 396 votes for, 16 against and 63 abstentions, will come into effect upon the ratification of two countries. The Philippines and Uruguay have already said they would ratify the accord.’This is a historic moment at the 100th session of the International Labour Conference, and we are making an important turning point,’ said a United Arab Emirates envoy, speaking on behalf of Gulf states, all of which supported the treaty.ILO data, which is a compilation of national statistics, indicate that there were at least 52,6 million domestic workers worldwide in 2010.But there are reasons to believe that the true number, concealed by undercounting among some states, could lie close to 100 million, the agency added.Despite the large numbers, domestic workers are still among the most exploited and abused. -Nampa-AFP

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