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Global: IDWF Priorities in the Regions, 2018

Global: IDWF Priorities in the Regions, 2018

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by IDWFED published Feb 01, 2018 12:00 AM
What are IDWF priorities for action in 2018? Below we look at the priority issues we have identified in each region.

Details

GLOBAL -

Africa


In preparation for the IDWF Congress, a regional meeting of all affiliates in the region will be convened in March. 

In addition, we will strengthen the African Domestic Workers Network as a network of all domestic workers’ unions in the Region for learning and solidarity actions. 

Hopefully this will pave the way for a strong IDWF regional structure in Africa.

We will continue to grow the IDWF in the Region, targeting the training of more leaders in Namibia, Malawi, Guinea, South Africa, Zambia and Ghana. 

In addition, we are aim to recruit into the IDWF domestic workers’ organizations in Ethiopia and Senegal.

 

We will support migrant domestic workers’ advocacy and organizing especially in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

This will include identifying areas of coordination with the programme of activities in the MENA region.

2018-1-14 Togo: Planning meeting of domestic workers

 

Asia


  • We will strengthen domestic workers’ leadership at all levels through training.

    We are planning to establish a regional committee of domestic workers to enable their active participation in the life of the IDWF, specifically to assist in the Stop Gender-based Violence advocacy campaign.
  • We will launch a strong Stop Gender-based Violence advocacy campaign in the Region. 

    We will support at least five affiliates in the Region to develop strong advocacy campaigns in their countries.

    This will include a range of activities such as a membership survey, policy formulation, community awareness raising campaigns and participation in the standard-setting process of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for an international law for change.
  • We will explore how to support migrant domestic workers in the Asia Pacific Region to organize better, in particular in the context of the care economy and safe migration.

    We will focus on our project to organize Filipino migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore, working with our partners to consolidate the local groups.

    We will also build alliances with partners to support other nationalities.

 

Caribbean


Implementing C189.

Last year Jamaica ratified the C189. This year, we will work with government to make it a reality by implementing legal reform.

 

To stop Gender Based Violence.

We will raise awareness among domestic workers so that they will work with our affiliate - the Jamaica Household Workers' Union - to demand that governments, especially the Jamaican Government, support legal reform at national and international levels.

Strengthening domestic workers unions.

We will train more domestic workers in the Region to become effective leaders. In Antigua, we will focus on recruiting more domestic workers into the union.

 2016-6-16 Jamaica: JHWU celebration for IDWD

 

Europe


To engage in the ILO standard-setting process for an international standard on violence at work.

To work with EFFAT on a project titled: "Promotion of domestic workers cooperatives and service voucher schemes". Trade unions in seven countries will be involved.

To continue developing a joint EFFAT/IDWF structure together with all IDWF and EFFAT affiliates in Europe.


Latin America


  • Working closer with our affiliates:

    We intend to carry out a needs assessment to help provide support that is most relevant. Through a survey and site visits, we aim to learn more about our affiliates’ needs on organizing, lobbying capacity, training, leadership, amongst others.

    Secondly, we will ensure that affiliates participate meaningfully in the IDWF Congress. To start the process towards Congress we are organizing a regional meeting on 3-6 May.

    This will also allow us to design a communication strategy for the Region for effective information flow between IDWF and affiliates.
  • Implementing C189 in the Region:

    2018 is the year when governments who have ratified C189 have to report to the ILO on progress made in its implementation. We will work closely with our affiliates and the ILO to provide them with technical support so they can generate good inputs for the official reports.

    This is particularly important in countries where there is an amicable relationship between our affiliates, trade unions and governments. At the same time, we will support affiliates in countries which have not ratified the C189 - such as Peru, Mexico and Brazil - in their struggle to ensure their governments do so soon.
  • Stopping Gender Based Violence:

    Highlighting Black Women and Migrants. IDWF has joined the global campaign to stop Gender Based Violence.

    As an important contribution to this campaign we intend to work with our Latin American affiliates to highlight the significant effects of violence amongst those groups of domestic workers that are particularly vulnerable: black women and migrant workers.

 

Middle East & North Africa (MENA)


To open the IDWF office in the Region.

To facilitate migrant domestic workers sharing and learning through implementing capacity building activities at national level, for example in Kuwait and Lebanon.

At Regional level, we plan to create a platform for migrant domestic workers to connect with in the IDWF. This will include participating in the IDWF second Congress in November this year.

To develop and implement research on care needs, and employment of migrant domestic workers and refugee women in Lebanon.

 

 

North America


Plans of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) in 2018:

Launch &/or win 3 city campaigns based on the Bill of Rights to raise standards for domestic workers and build the membership of the alliance.

Congress of affiliates, chapters and individual members.

 

Participate in mass movement actions to fight for DACA and other immigration policies, the #MeToo movement to highlight how sexual harassment affects domestic workers and other low-income workers, and help with voter education.


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Story Type: News

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