Convention on Domestic Workers

The Convention on Domestic Workers, formally the Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers is a convention setting labour standards for domestic workers. It is the 189th ILO convention and was adopted during the 100th session of the International Labour Organization.[4] It entered into force on 5 September 2013.[3]

C189
Convention on Domestic Workers
Parties to the convention (red)
other ILO members (Grey)
Signed16 June 2011
LocationGeneva
Effective5 September 2013
Condition2 ratifications
Ratifiers31[1][2][3]
DepositaryDirector-General of the International Labour Office
LanguagesFrench and English

Rights

The main rights given to domestic workers as decent work are daily and weekly (at least 24 h) rest hours, entitlement to minimum wage and to choose the place where they live and spend their leave. Ratifying states parties should also take protective measures against violence and should enforce a minimum age which is consistent with the minimum age at other types of employment. Workers furthermore have a right to a clear (preferably written) communication of employment conditions which should in case of international recruitment be communicated prior to immigration. They are furthermore not required to reside at the house where they work, or to stay at the house during their leave.[4]

Adoption and entry into force

The convention was put to vote on 16 June 2011 by a vote at the ILO conference in Geneva. As ILO is a tripartite organization, for every country the government, employers and workers' representatives are entitled to vote. The convention was adopted with 396 votes in favour and 16 against (and 63 abstentions).[4] All Persian Gulf states voted in support, while abstentions were cast by (amongst others) the United Kingdom.[5]

The convention entered into force one year after ratification by two countries, which is a standard entry into force condition for ILO conventions. Ratifications are to be communicated to the Secretary-General of the ILO.

On 26 April 2012, the Uruguayan parliament approved the convention and thereby became the first country to ratify it,[6] followed by presidential assent on 30 April 2012[7] and deposit of its instrument of ratification in June 2012.[1]

As of October 2020, it has been ratified by 30 states.

Measures for domestic workers due to the Covid-19 phenomenon

The ILO estimated that 49.3% of domestic workers were significantly affected in the early stages of the pandemic. That figure peaked at 73.7 per cent on May 15 and then fell to 72.3 per cent on June 4. At the beginning of June 2020, the number of COVID-19 infections exceeded 7.3 million cases in most countries and territories. As the number of cases spread so did the measures. In order to facilitate physical distancing, most countries have adopted full or partial blocking measures to prevent transmission.[8]

Experience of the COVID-19 infection crisis showed that social protection and active labour market policy require strategically integrated planning and implementation. Preventing further job losses during the recession and preparing the workforce for the labour market supply is necessary during the future economic recovery. Strengthening synergy among social protection measures is a priority in supporting the ILO for its constituents.[9]

References
  1. One year on, Uruguay is first to ratify ILO domestic work Convention ILO
  2. "Domestic Workers Convention: Labor Rights Treaty to Take Effect". Human Rights Watch. 6 August 2012.
  3. "Italy ratifies the Domestic Workers Convention". International Labour Organization. 22 Jan 2013. Retrieved 24 Jan 2013.
  4. "100th ILO annual Conference decides to bring an estimated 53 to 100 million domestic workers worldwide under the realm of labour standards". International Labour Organization. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  5. Hui Min Neo (16 June 2011). "ILO passes landmark treaty to protect domestic workers". Global Nation Inquirer. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  6. "Uruguay First Country to Ratify C189". International Domestic Workers' Network. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  7. "Uruguay: First to Ratify Domestic Workers Convention". Human Rights Watch. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  8. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/domestic-workers/publications/factsheets/WCMS_747961/lang--en/index.htm
  9. https://www.ilo.org/employment/Whatwedo/Publications/WCMS_753447/lang--en/index.htm

See also
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