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by IDWFED published Oct 14, 2014 04:45 PM
India: Migrant domestic workers need legislative support

India: Migrant domestic workers need legislative support

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 05:48 PM

Promising to engage with trade unions on their demands, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 18 urged them, as well as the industry, to focus on discussions for the welfare of migrant and domestic workers working in unsafe conditions.

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Kenya: NSSF to visit homes in hunt for unregistered workers

Kenya: NSSF to visit homes in hunt for unregistered workers

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 06:20 PM

National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is closing in on employers with tight plans to expand social security coverage to domestic workers. Barely two weeks after it issued a month’s amnesty for employers of domestic workers to comply with registration of staff and remit contributions, the Fund now plans a door-to-door inspection exercise.

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Malaysia: NGO says more foreign domestic workers denied food

Malaysia: NGO says more foreign domestic workers denied food

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 06:13 PM

A non-governmental organization said there has been an increase in the incidence of foreign domestic workers in Malaysia being punished by depriving food to them.

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India: Government defers national policy for domestic workers

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 06:07 PM

The government today deferred a proposal on giving domestic workers the right over minimum wages, paid leave and regulated working hours under a national policy. The national policy for domestic workers, which would benefit over 6.4 million domestic workers, was slated to be taken up by the Union Cabinet for consideration.

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Kenya: NSSF Warns of Fines Over Domestic Workers' Dues

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 06:00 PM

You risk being fined Sh15,000 if you do not allow National Social Security Fund (NSSF) agents into your home to verify your domestic workers are registered under the pension scheme.

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UAE and Philippines edge nearer on amended labour agreement

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 05:51 PM

An amended labour agreement between the UAE and the Philippines to help prevent cases of unlawful and forced contract substitution is nearing completion. The technical working groups from both countries had an open discussion yesterday to refine the provisions of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that lapsed in April last year.

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Hong Kong: Calls on Bangladesh to fill domestic workers shortage

Hong Kong: Calls on Bangladesh to fill domestic workers shortage

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 10, 2015 05:08 PM

Hong Kong is facing an acute shortage of one the engines of its dynamic economy - cheap domestic help. More than 290,000 foreign domestic helpers - mainly Indonesians, Filipinas and Thais - live and work in the special administrative region of Hong Kong, according to Hong Kong's Department of Immigration. But fears that Indonesian plans to wind up the foreign export of its low-skilled workers by 2017 will lead to a shortage of cheap hired help has the city's employment agencies looking elsewhere in the region.

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Saudi Arabia: Filipino workers urged to rectify their status

Saudi Arabia: Filipino workers urged to rectify their status

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 09, 2015 06:31 PM

The Philippine Embassy yesterday urged Filipinos in the Kingdom to correct their status in keeping with the grace period announced by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labor.

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Cameroon: Domestic workers call on government to pass law to protect workplace rights

Cameroon: Domestic workers call on government to pass law to protect workplace rights

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 10, 2015 06:05 PM

Domestic workers in Cameroon have taken up the battle to bring dignity to their profession. They’re staging protests in the capital to draw attention to their plight, including long hours and low wages. Many say they are also exploited and abused by their employers. They are now calling on government to pass legislation that protects their fundamental rights.

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UK: The noise on immigration is drowning out real problems

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 10, 2015 05:52 PM

Can governments ever be tough enough on immigration? Ask any canvasser and they report grim news from the doorstep: whatever the issue – housing, jobs, benefits – in these hard times the blame has been successfully diverted on to migrants for taking jobs and homes. Tighten the screw, pull up the drawbridge, cut off the attractions that draw them to the UK, but no political action is ever enough to sate the demand for tougher border defences.

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Brazil: PEC alters routine of mothers (Portuguese only)

Brazil: PEC alters routine of mothers (Portuguese only)

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 10, 2015 06:18 PM

Valendo há pouco mais de um mês, a PEC fez com que famílias mudassem suas rotinas para se dedicarem mais aos seus lares e também aos seus filhos. A Proposta de Emenda à Constituição (PEC) das Domésticas só passou a valer há um pouco mais de um mês mas já mudou a rotina de muita gente. Neste domingo (12), Dia das Mães, conheça algumas mulheres que para economizar ou até mesmo otimizar o tempo dessas trabalhadoras dentro de suas casas, passaram a se dedicar mais aos seus lares e também aos seus filhos.

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Brazil: Survey shows support for amendment of PEC on household work (Portuguese only)

Brazil: Survey shows support for amendment of PEC on household work (Portuguese only)

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 10, 2015 06:11 PM

O DataSenado, serviço do Senado Federal responsável pelo monitoramento da opinião pública, realizou pesquisa com 1.222 pessoas, entre os dias 16 e 30 de abril, para conhecer a opinião dos brasileiros sobre a Emenda Constitucional 72/2013, conhecida como PEC das Domésticas, e a aceitação popular sobre medidas adotadas pelo Senado para gerar economia de gastos e fortalecer a transparência. A pesquisa tem abrangência nacional e margem de erro de 3%, para mais ou para menos.

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Bangladesh: Demand justice for killed domestic workers

Bangladesh: Demand justice for killed domestic workers

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:02 PM

The Domestic Workers Rights Network (DWRN) organized a human chain on 11 May 2013 in front of National Press Club in Dhaka to demand for justice of three domestic workers who were found dead on May 2 and 8.

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Brazil: Domestic Workers law creates opportunity for entrepreneurs to enter the market (Portuguese only)

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:06 PM

Empresa americana Jan-Pro, que atua no segmento de limpeza comercial, procura empreendedores para atender demanda de faxina residencial Diante da alta no preço do serviço doméstico no Brasil, a multinacional americana Jan-Pro, especializada em limpeza comercial, vai começar a atender o segmento residencial para competir com diaristas e domésticas.

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Paraguay ratifies the Domestic Workers Convention

Paraguay ratifies the Domestic Workers Convention

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:18 PM

On 7 May 2013, the Government of Paraguay deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189). Paraguay is the seventh ILO member State and the third Latin American member State to ratify this instrument which, in accordance with its Article 21, paragraph 2 of the Convention, will enter into force on 5 September 2013, twelve months after the date on which it was ratified by two ILO member States.

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Qutar: Advisory Council approves draft Health Insurance Law

Qutar: Advisory Council approves draft Health Insurance Law

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:24 PM

The Advisory Council (Al Shura) has approved the draft Health Insurance Law at a meeting chaired by its president, HE Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi, local daily Arrayah has reported. The council has also recommended that domestic workers be exempted from payment of the insurance premium. Provisions of the law will apply to all Qatari nationals, GCC nationals, residents of the State of Qatar and visitors, according to the report.

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USA: It's time to secure the quality care we need

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:40 PM

Caring Across Generations is started to unite care consumers, families, workers and immigrant rights organizations to build a better long-term care system that supports each of us, our family members and our neighbors, to live and age in our own homes and communities. The Caring Across Generations campaign brings together aging Americans, people with disabilities, workers, and their families to protect all Americans’ right to choose the care and supports they need to live with dignity.

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Malawi: Shop and domestic workers strike over, government promises increased minimum wage

Malawi: Shop and domestic workers strike over, government promises increased minimum wage

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:31 PM

Shop and domestic workers in Malawi's capital city Lilongwe on Tuesday, May 7, agreed to call off their two day strike after their employers agreed to raise the minimum wage to K18,600 per month with government also promising that it will adjust upward the current minimum wage which is at K317 per month.

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Kenya: Pay your domestic workers Sh9,700 at the least, urged by KUDHEIHA

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 14, 2015 04:45 PM

The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) is urging employers to conform to the new minimum pay for their workers which was effected on Labour Day.

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Hong Kong: Domestic Workers' May Day Statement

Hong Kong: Domestic Workers' May Day Statement

by IDWFED — last modified May 03, 2016 05:12 PM

Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers' Unions (FADWU), as one of the important labour force in Hong Kong, joins May Day Rally today and hopes to convey a message that, no matter migrant workers and local workers, should be treated with justice and equal rights.

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USA: Hawaii has become the second state to have Domestic Worker Bill of Rights

USA: Hawaii has become the second state to have Domestic Worker Bill of Rights

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 17, 2015 03:00 PM

Hawaii is poised to become the second state to have a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. Senate Bill 535 passed overwhelmingly in both chambers of the Hawaiian legislature on April 30. The landmark legislation will protect domestic workers from discriminatory practices and cover them under the state’s wage and hour law. Governor Neil Abercrombie now has 60 days to sign the bill.

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Domestic Workers mobilized on the International Labour Day

Domestic Workers mobilized on the International Labour Day

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 17, 2015 02:54 PM

Domestic workers around the world mobilized on the International Labour Day!

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Kenya: Domestic workers win major pay victory against employers

Kenya: Domestic workers win major pay victory against employers

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 17, 2015 03:08 PM

Domestic workers have won a key battle for better employment terms after the court affirmed the validity of verbal contracts and imposed heavy penalties on an employer for breach of the same. The historic judgment by the Industrial Court has left millions of households exposed to legal challenge and effectively puts domestic workers under the Employment Act. It also sends a warning to employers that they can no longer hire and dismiss domestic workers at will.

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Trinidad & Tobago: Labor Ministry reviewing the C189

Trinidad & Tobago: Labor Ministry reviewing the C189

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 17, 2015 03:29 PM

"We are reviewing the C189." The Labor Ministry of Trinidad & Tobago wrote to the President of the National Union of Domestic Employees on April 25. He said that the government is reviewing its national law and has developed a register for domestic to facilitate the Ratification.

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Indonesia: Urgent call for signatories to the government to adopt domestic workers bill

Indonesia: Urgent call for signatories to the government to adopt domestic workers bill

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 17, 2015 03:36 PM

An urgent call for signatories to Indonesian government to adopt Domestic Workers Bill and ratify ILO Convention 189. This is a crucial time as the domestic workers bill is now on the agenda at the parliament.

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Bolivia: Second Latin American member State to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention

Bolivia: Second Latin American member State to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention

by IDWFED — last modified Feb 01, 2016 10:09 PM

On 15 April 2013, the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189). Bolivia is the fifth ILO member State and the second Latin American member State to ratify this instrument which, in accordance with its Article 21, paragraph 2 of the Convention, will enter into force on 5 September 2013, twelve months after the date on which it was ratified by two ILO member States.

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Domestic Workers Sow a New Global Movement

Domestic Workers Sow a New Global Movement

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 17, 2015 04:07 PM

Despite stretching into every region of the world, domestic work has historically been excluded from conventional labor laws, regardedly merely as “women’s work". A breakthrough came in 2011 with the passage of the groundbreaking Convention 189 on domestic workers' rights by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN special agency for labor rights. The convention lays out principles for fair treatment at work, including the right to a fair labor contract and a safe work environment, freedom from exploitation and coercion, and legal recourse against abusive employers.

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Hong Kong: Gender equality comes at the expense of foreign domestic workers

Hong Kong: Gender equality comes at the expense of foreign domestic workers

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 20, 2015 01:35 PM

The truth is that the earnings equality between Hong Kong's men and women has been achieved almost entirely at the expense of these helpers. Hong Kong, as a society, still undervalues "women's work".

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Colombia: The first Afro-descendant domestic workers Union

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 24, 2015 06:13 PM

When Maria Roa arrived in Medellin 10 years ago, her primary focus was to provide a better life for her three children. She took a job as a domestic worker, as many Afro-Colombian women do, but quickly realized the position was underpaid and overworked. Despite the nature of this physically and emotionally challenging work, domestic workers like Maria have been successful in their organizing efforts to form a new union, the Union of Domestic Service Workers (UTRASD), to combat workplace discrimination, improve benefits and establish job security.

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Philippines: DOLE Kalinga to hold consultation on Kasambahay Act

by IDWFED — last modified Sep 20, 2015 01:36 PM

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Kalinga will conduct a public consultation on the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of the Kasambahay Act, a new law benefiting household workers, on April 15 here.

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