Pressure Grows to Protect Domestic Workers

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Domestic workers in downtown Lima, Peru demonstrate to demand labor protections, June 15, 2012. The placards (L-R) read, “We all have the same dignity and rights” and “We demand the ratification of the 189 ILO Convention.” © 2012 REUTERS/ Enrique Castro-Mendivil 417490
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Domestic workers rejoice after the result of the vote on the Domestic Workers Convention. International Labour Conference, 100th Session, Geneva. June 16, 2011. © 2011 International Labour Organization 417490
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The Federation of Asian Domestic Workers’ Unions (FADWU) joined a rally in Hong Kong to call for more effective labor protections for both migrant and local workers, May 1, 2013. According to a 2013 ILO study, 21.5 million domestic workers—or 41 percent of the estimated global total— are employed in Asia. © 2013 IDWN / Yeeting Ma 417490
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A 16-year-old girl stands inside a shelter on the outskirts of New Delhi, November 9, 2012. Children are among the most vulnerable of those in domestic work. The ILO estimates that 73 percent of child domestic workers are girls and one-third (3.5 million) are between ages 5 and 11. © 2012 REUTERS/ Mansi Thapliyal 417490
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At a protest to demand that Lebanese authorities take measures to protect domestic workers, an Eritrean woman, left, carries a banner in Arabic that reads: “On International Women’s Day we support the rights of the foreign domestic workers.” Beirut, Lebanon, March 8, 2009. © 2009 AP Photo/ Grace Kassab 417490
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Domestic workers and their allies march to the Cambodian Ministry of Labor on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2012, to urge the government to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention. © 2012 CLC/ IDEA – part of the ITUC-Cambodian Council 417490
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Hundreds of domestic workers organized by the South African Domestic and Allied Workers’ Union (SADSAWU) rallied in April 2013 before the Office of the Department of Labour to speed South Africa’s ratification of the ILO Domestic Workers Convention. South Africa ratified the convention in June 2013. © 2013 COSATU/ Norman Mampane 417490
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ILO delegates celebrate the final result of the vote on the Domestic Workers Convention. International Labour Conference, 100th Session, Geneva. June 16, 2011. © 2011 International Labour Organization. 417490
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On May 6, 2013, the Union of Household Workers of Chile (SINTRACAP) organized a meeting with Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile and former executive director of UN Women. Engaging top political leaders has been a key strategy to foster support for a marginalized issue. © 2013 Sindicato Interempresas de Trabajadoras de Casa Particular (SINTRACAP) 417490
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95 domestic worker representatives from groups in 17 countries launched the Africa Domestic Workers Network (AfDWN) in Cape Town, South Africa on June 16, 2013. © 2013 IDWN/ Erna Curry 417490
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Representatives of domestic workers’ groups called for ratification of C189 by performing a rap to government officials from Asia on May 31, 2013 during the event entitled “Protecting Migrant Domestic Workers: Enhancing their Development Potential.” Advocates have used music, dance, and art to challenge and change attitudes towards domestic work. © 2013 UN Women 417490
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On December 12, 2012, members of the Technical Working Group (TWG), together with musician Noel Cabangon wear aprons from the global “12 by 12” ILO Domestic Worker Convention ratification campaign. The TWG, a coalition advocating for domestic workers’ rights, played an important role in the Philippines adopting national domestic work legislation and ratifying the Domestic Workers Convention. © 2012 ILO/ A. Valencia 417490
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On December 12, 2012, public buses in Costa Rica carried billboards highlighting the global “12 by 12” campaign for ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention. Unions launched a national campaign to pressure Costa Rica’s government to ratify C189. © 2012 CTRN/ TUCA–CSI/ ITUC/ Astradomes 417490
The founding of a global federation of domestic workers is a sign of the growing strength of the movement, and a key moment to assess progress for workers long excluded from basic labor protections. There are an estimated 53 million domestic workers worldwide – the majority of whom are women and girls, and many of whom are migrants.
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