Transcript ILO

Decent Work
For Domestic Workers:
Towards International
Labour Standards on
the Subject
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Why an ILS on this subject now?
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Old ILO concern
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work-family tensions with demand for paid care
work
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serious decent work deficits
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Most important occupation for millions of women
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What is Domestic Work?
Work like any other, work like no other
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not perceived as “real” work
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in the employer’s household
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does not generate profits for employer
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workplace and home often overlap
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De jure and de facto excluded from labour law
protection
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regulated by strong non-state norms
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Working conditions: Remuneration
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undervalued work
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high proportion of in-kind payment
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often no minimum wage coverage
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underpayment or late payment of wages
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salary deductions
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households’ earnings determine earnings of DW
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Working conditions: working time
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About 50% of countries do not impose mandatory limit
on normal hours of work
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50% of countries permit longer hours than other workers
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58 % of countries provide 1 to 2 days of rest per week;
40% do not specify rest time period
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83% countries do not impose limit on night work
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Only a few countries regulate working time and provide
for overtime compensation
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Vulnerability and abuses: the special case of
migrant domestic workers (MDWers)
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Inequality of treatment with nationals
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especially social protection
no automatic coverage under national healthcare schemes
Vulnerability to abuse:
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unaccredited employment agencies
dependency on one employer; the loss of employment entails
loss of work permit
requirement in some countries to live-in
with-holding of passport by employer
pregnancy or HIV status often result in worker’s dismissal
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Possible draft International
Labour Standards on DW
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ILC 2010
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number and type of draft instrument (s)
Possible scenarios:
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a Convention, or
a Recommendation, or
a Convention and a Recommendation, or
a Convention with binding and non-binding parts
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Goals of possible new instrument(s)
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Cover as many DWers as possible
Clear and simple
Ratifiable
Provide sufficient guidance and incentives to
enable their meaningful implementation
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Steps towards the preparation and adoption of ILO draft
international labour instrument(s) on domestic workers
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March 2009: The Office sends a law and practice report along with a questionnaire to ILO
Member States. Governments are requested to consult with the most representative
workers’ organizations and employers' associations
August 2009: Deadline for submission of replies to the Office.
February 2010: The Office sends to ILO Member States a second report examining the
replies received to the questionnaire in 2009
June 2010: First discussion at the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the ILO. A
decision is taken on the form of the draft ILO instrument(s)- whether a Convention or a
Recommendation or both or a Convention with binding and non-binding parts.
August 2010: The Office sends a third report containing (a) draft instrument(s) to
Member States
End November 2010: Deadline for submission to the Office of comments on the third
report by Member States
March 2011: The Office sends two reports to member States: one examining the replies
received on the third report, and the other containing the text of the draft instrument(s)
revised in the light of comments received
June 2011: Second discussion at the ILC. A Convention or any other agreed instrument
will be discussed and adopted or rejected by the ILC
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