News
Asia: Recognize us and listen to us: Towards Achieving Decent Work for Domestic Workers
— by Fish Ip — last modified Nov 01, 2017 05:42 PMThe IDWF-MFA conference statement of "Enhancing Collective Advocacy, Action and Empowerment of Domestic Workers in Asia", 22-24 Oct 2017, Manila, Philippines.
Global: IDWF calls for Abolition of the Kafala System to Protect Migrant Domestic Workers Rights
— by IDWFED — last modified Nov 02, 2017 06:20 PMThe IDWF represented half a million domestic workers over the world. Many of them are migrant women. At the panel titled "Decent work and labour mobility," Vicky Kanyoka pointed out that African countries have emerged as new countries of origin for migrant domestic workers going to the Middle East in recent years.
Lebanon: ILO Interregional Consultation on Labour Migration and Mobility from Asia/Africa to the Middle East
— by IDWFED — last modified Nov 08, 2017 05:03 PMILO Interregional Consultation on Labour Migration and Mobility from Asia/Africa to the Middle East on October 4-5.
Global: Modern slavery is disturbingly common - Forced labour persists around the world, particularly for domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Sep 21, 2017 06:34 PMForced labour persists around the world, particularly for domestic workers
Middle East: IDWF gathered domestic workers leaders to address rights gaps of migrant domestic workers in the region
— by IDWFED — last modified Nov 08, 2017 03:33 PMIn partnership with the FES, LO-Norway, national trade unions and others, the IDWF gathered domestic workers leaders and other social partners to discuss concrete suggestions to address rights gaps of migrant domestic workers in the region.
Switzerland: "We demand the respect and rights that other workers enjoy!" Shirley Pryce's speech at the IUF Congress
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 31, 2017 05:46 PMRead Shirley Pryce's speech on Aug 31 at the 27th World Congress of the The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF).
Switzerland: "Our work makes all work possible," Myrtle Witbooi says at the IUF Congress
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 31, 2017 05:44 PMOn Aug 30, Myrtle Witbooi, President of the IDWF speaks at the 27th World Congress of the The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF).
Lebanon: MENA civil society consultation on the Global Compact on Migration
— by IDWFED — last modified Nov 08, 2017 05:28 PMMarie-José Tayah, Regional Coordinator for MENA participated alongside migrant domestic workers leaders in the country.
Latin America: Welcome Adriana Paz, IDWF's new Latin America Regional Coordinator!
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 23, 2017 02:43 PMStarting September 1, Ms. Adriana Gabriela Paz Ramirez will join our team.
Global: "Domestic Workers of the World Unite" by Jennifer Fish, tells the first global domestic workers' movement
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 24, 2017 05:50 PM"Domestic Workers of the World Unite," by Jennifer Fish, tells our story of the first global domestic workers movement and our human rights victory at the International Labour Organization.
Nepal: Domestic worker is included in newly adopted Labor Act
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 31, 2017 04:57 PMThe New Labor Act was adopted by the parliament on August 13. HUN, an affiliated in Nepal, has put enormous effort to lobby for it, together with its union center, GEFONT. This law covers all of workers who work at least one hour, so domestic workers, even part time basis, are included in new labor Act.
USA: Charlottesville, white supremacists, and NDWA response
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 23, 2017 06:03 PM"We are horrified by the events in Charlottesville, Virginia. Our thoughts and hearts are with the victims, their families and the residents of Charlottesville that are standing up and standing together against hate and violence."
India: "Decent Work for Domestic Workers": All India Jingle Writing Competition
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 09, 2017 11:40 PMILO launches a jingle competition to recognize ‘Domestic Work is Work”. This competition is organized by the ‘Work in Freedom Programme’ of the International Labour Organization.
Global: International guidelines are one path to pushing for decent living and working conditions of migrants - report on the Regional Consultation on the UN Compact on Migration
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 28, 2017 06:36 PMUpdates on the UN Global Compact for Migration - A report on the Asian Regional Consultation, Bangkok-Thailand, August 4 & 5, 2017
Asia & Middle East: IDWF participated in the inter-regional tripartite expert forum
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 23, 2017 05:23 PMIDWF participated in the inter-regional tripartite expert forum on skills and migration in the South Asia – Middle East corridor on 25-26 July.
Mexico: SINACTRAHO begins a collective contract campaign
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 28, 2017 06:40 PMCollective Agreement Campaign Launched to ensure domestic workers will have minimum wage, social security and other rights.
India: Justice for Sabina
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 23, 2017 03:28 PMOn January 29, 2014, a gruesome and shocking incident took place in Gurugram, where a 14-year-old domestic worker named Sabina Khatun’s body was found hanging in her employer's house. Gharelu Kamgar Sanghatan is determined to bring justice to Sabina and challenge the habitual practice of miscarriage of justice in rape cases in Haryana.
Spain: Grupo Turin delivered 100,000 signatures urging for ratification of C189
— by IDWFED — last modified Jul 14, 2017 05:33 PMOn July 13, the Grupo Turin delivered 100,000 signatures collected to the Ministry of Employment and Social Security collected online.
India: A domestic worker was allegedly beaten up by her employer, leading to protests by her villagers
— by IDWFED — last modified Jul 17, 2017 05:51 PMResidents of an apartment complex in Noida woke up to a riot-like situation on Wednesday morning, when a mob stormed its gates and vandalised the premises alleging that one of its residents had assaulted a domestic worker.
Global: Join WIEGO's campaign for quality public child care for all workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 25, 2017 10:14 PMWIEGO is launching this campaign to draw attention to child care as a workers' rights issue that impacts all workers, but is particularly important for informal women workers. We see quality public child care as a core component of any social protection system.
Jamaica: Shirley Pryce is CARICOM "Woman of the Year"
— by IDWFED — last modified Jul 14, 2017 05:11 PMShirley Pryce, also a leader of the IDWF, member of our Executive Committee. She is a fighter and determined leader. She truly deserves this award and our sincere congratulations!
Dominican Republic: Campaigning for implementation of C189 on June 16
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 28, 2017 06:37 PMCampaigning for implementation of C189 In Dominican Republic, IDWF affiliate Asociación de Trabajadoras del Hogar (ATH), organized a group of 150 people on 16 June to protest and remind the government of domestic workers rights as set on C189.
Global: Thousands of domestic workers celebrated the International Domestic Workers Day on June 16
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 28, 2017 06:32 PMThousands of domestic workers celebrated the International Domestic Workers Day on June 16
Canada: Caregivers Speak Out! International Domestic Workers Day 2017
— by IDWFED — last modified Jun 29, 2017 06:13 PMSince the early 1900s when women began migrating to Canada to work as caregivers, we have been organizing. And we will continue organizing until Canada ratifies ILO Convention 189, until caregivers have permanent residency status upon arrival, and until all caregivers are treated with respect and dignity.
Global: Domestic Workers Speak - A global struggle for rights and recognition (video)
— by IDWFED — last modified Jun 21, 2017 06:07 PMInternational Domestic Workers Rights Day – June 16 – celebrates the 67 million mainly women workers who do the behind the scenes work to keep our lives, societies and economies functioning.
Nicaragua: LGBTI Labor Inclusion convening
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 23, 2017 05:06 PMIn June, the First Latin American and Carribean Forum on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Labor Inclusion was held in Managua, Nicaragua.
Italy: Myrtle Witbooi's Speech at the DomEQUAL EVENT on Anti-Racist & Feminist Movements
— by IDWFED — last modified Jun 29, 2017 06:16 PMDomEQUAL EVENT SERIES Venice Symposium #2 - The Global Fight For Domestic Workers’ Rights
Global: International Domestic Workers Day June 16 2017, the IDWF calls for "All for one, One for all: Dignity and Decent Work for all National, Migrant and Refugee Domestic Workers"
— by IDWFED — last modified Jun 17, 2017 10:20 PMIn 2017, 21.3 million people worldwide are refugees displaced from their homelands. One of the few employment options available to women (and girl) refugees, who account for 50 per cent of this population, is domestic work. The sector – loosely regulated and with limited barriers to entry – attracts many refugees who otherwise find it difficult to obtain work permits and to have their degrees and qualifications recognized.
USA: Nevada Becomes the 8th State to Pass a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 25, 2017 09:43 PMOn June 12, 2017, Nevada passed Domestic Worker Bill of Rights SB 232 into law!
Global: 2017 June 16 Resources Highlight
— by IDWFED — last modified Jun 21, 2017 06:08 PMIn honor of International Domestic Workers Day (IDWD) we want to share these resources: