Latest Updates
Mozambique: A Site of Struggle - Organised Labour and Domestic Worker Organising
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 06, 2015 05:55 PMThis article explores why domestic work developed into a strategic growth area for organised labour in Mozambique, arguing that ultimately, unions are themselves sites of struggle between competing interests and visions, capable of shifting direction, strategies and tactics.
Global: Domestic Workers Mobilized on the International Women's Day
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 02:49 PMDomestic Workers Mobilized on the International Women's Day!
India: Violence against domestic workers brushed under the carpet
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 06, 2015 05:06 PMVarious domestic workers who work indoors point out that the lack of social support and the unequal power relation between them and their employer makes them vulnerable to various forms of sexual abuse.
Cambodia: Urging the government to ratify ILO Convention 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 06:39 PMCambodian Government should ratify ILO Convention 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers!
Caribbean: The CDWN collecting signatures to ask the governments to ratify C189
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 06:16 PMIn about a week's time, we will be celebrating the International Women's Day. The Caribbean Domestic Workers' Network is collecting signatures to ask the governments to ratify C189 to protect rights of all domestic workers. All signatures will be submitted to Ministers of Labor on March 8, 2013.
Nepal: Government approves domestic workers training manual
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 06, 2015 06:01 PM“The training manual was introduced to develop the skills of housemaids. Hereafter, not a single housemaid will join a foreign job without receiving training,” he said. The government has taken this initiative to reduce the chances of housemaids being exploited by developing their skills. A UN Women study reveals that housemaids are more vulnerable due to lack of skills to operate modern home appliances.
Hong Kong: Domestic workers living with their employers exposes them to the risk of assault and harassment
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 06, 2015 06:11 PMThe Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers' Union says the rule exposes maids to the risk of indecent assault or sexual harassment by their employers. They voiced their concerns on Mar 3 with a rally outside the HSBC headquarters in Central, at which domestic helpers recounted recent ordeals they have had while living with their employers in the city.
Global: 2013 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award - International Domestic Workers' Network
— by IDWFED — last modified Aug 06, 2021 12:25 PMIn recognition of the groundbreaking efforts of domestic workers worldwide to organize for greater awareness of and respect for their work, their historic success in the adoption of the ILO convention and their commitment to support, expand and build the global labor movement, the AFL-CIO is pleased to award the 2013 George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award to the International Domestic Workers' Network.
USA: Domestic Workers call for bill of rights
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 06, 2015 06:30 PMThe Southwest Workers Union's Domestic Workers in Action group wants the city to adopt a “San Antonio Domestic Worker Bill of Rights,” which would provide nannies, maids and home care providers the ability to negotiate salaries and workloads. It also would give workers the right to take meals and breaks, to be eligible for workers' compensation and to receive sick time.
South Africa: Cheap health care for domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 12, 2015 02:24 PMDomestic workers will now be able to access nationwide private health care – at a cost of R170 to the employer. DomestiCare – a new health-care scheme – was launched this month by the CareCross Health Group. Now employers will be able to provide their helpers with occupational and private primary health care, which includes GP consultations, medicines, X-rays and blood tests. However, it will not include chronic medicine or hospitalisation.
Lebanon: New round of regulating domestic worker agencies begins
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 12, 2015 02:15 PMA draft decree to regulate private recruitment agencies and bring them in line with international standards was discussed by key stakeholders at the Labor Ministry on Feb 25, with representatives from recruitment agencies complaining that they were not consulted.
UK: Protecting the Labour Rights and Human Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers – A Labour Regulation Approach
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 12, 2015 02:09 PMWomen who cross national borders in order to work in the households of other peoples’ families are very vulnerable to exploitation.Their precarious work situation is a function both of their precarious migrant status – typically they are admitted to the country in which they work on visas that tie their ‘rights’ to work and to reside in that country to an on-going employment relationship with a specific employer – and their employment within private homes.
Global: IDWN joins other NGOs, call on all governments to ratify C189 to protect child domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 06:09 PMTen leading international organizations called on ministers of labor around the globe in a letter released on Feb 25, 2013 to protect child domestic workers and to ratify the ILO Domestic Workers Convention (Convention 189 concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers). The convention, adopted in June 2011, will help eliminate child domestic labor and improve the lives of an estimated 15 million child domestic workers.
Lebanon: Informational film for domestic workers "Domestic work in Lebanon"
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 12, 2015 02:54 PMDeveloped by KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation, a non-profit organization working on ending violence against women, "Domestic Work in Lebanon" is a video providing information and advice to the domestic workers who are going to Lebanon.
Malaysia: IDWN signed a joint statement issued by MTUC on Minimum Wage Policy and Migrant Workers Levy
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 06:06 PMThe IDWN has signed a joint statement issued by MTUC on Minimum Wage Policy and Migrant Workers Levy and now invites all of you to sign on and support the migrant workers in Malaysia.
USA: For Day Laborers. For Domestic Workers. Reform For all 11 Million.
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 12, 2015 02:59 PMA contingent of domestic workers, la labourers and other workers from all over the country in USA marched in Washington DC to demand for an immigration reform, so that they can regularize their situation, improve economic conditions and obtain recognition for their economic contributions.
Philippines: "For Good: Stories of Return to the Philippines" raise awareness on plight of women migrant workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Nov 13, 2015 09:37 PMUN Women Philippines launched in 2012 a video documentary: "For Good: Stories of Return to the Philippines" to raise the public awareness on the plight of women migrant workers and their families. The documentary explored four facets of return and reintegration of women migrant workers using interviews based on actual experiences of Filipine women returnees from Middle East and North African region.
Malaysia: 67 organizations demand the Malaysian Government to scrap migrant workers levy
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 17, 2015 04:14 PM"We call on the Malaysian government to immediately rescind the decision made by the Malaysian cabinet on Wednesday (30 Jan 2013) to allow employers of migrant workers to recover the levy they pay the government by deduction of wages of migrant workers.
GCC: Migrant Rights urges revised draft law on GCC domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 17, 2015 04:03 PMA new law in the Arab Gulf states that deals with domestic workers fails to meet international standards, Migrant Rights said on Feb 6, 2013.
Brazil: Rising Middle Class Affects Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 17, 2015 04:20 PMA video report about how a rising middle class is affecting domestic workers in Brazil.
USA: NDWA found a significant wage penalty for being undocumented
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 17, 2015 04:43 PMThe NDWA found a significant wage penalty for being undocumented. Overall, domestic workers who are US citizens have a median $12 hourly wage, but undocumented immigrants are paid $10, a 17 percent difference.
Italy: Most domestic workers are foreigners
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 18, 2015 09:56 PMAt least 80% of domestic workers in Italy are foreigners, a new research by Fondazione Leone Moressa has revealed. There was – 5.2% decrease in their number between 2010 and 2011. In the same period, the number of Italian domestic workers increased by 3.0%.
GCC: Unified contract for domestic workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 06:10 PMThe country has backed proposals for a unified GCC employment contract for domestic workers that would also give them the right to keep their passports and ensure they are paid monthly. The country has backed proposals for a unified GCC employment contract for domestic workers that would also give them the right to keep their passports and ensure they are paid monthly. Cleaners, nannies, cooks, butlers, drivers and gardeners would be included in the new regulations, which will be discussed by GCC Labour Ministers during a meeting in Bahrain later this year.
Ghana: Domestic workers have rights that need to be respected
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 18, 2015 10:13 PMMr. Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, has said that domestic workers have rights that need to be respected, just like every other worker.
Nigeria: Domestic Workers are Brought in for a Huge Profit
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 18, 2015 10:48 PMGbenga Komolafe, General Secretary of Federation of Informal Workers' Organisations of Nigeria (FIWON), confirms that domestic workers are exploited and abused in Nigeria. According to him, the gruesome stories of gross abuse and inhumanity suffered by domestic workers in the country, demonstrates the pivotal importance of a legislation to protect them.
Asia: Governments must ensure domestic workers get their fair dues
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 18, 2015 10:58 PMRecently, the public debate in Hong Kong has focused on the question of residency for domestic workers who have worked in the city for many years. But a more fundamental question is often lost in the debate: do we treat domestic workers as equals, or as second-class workers?
Hong Kong: "Beautiful Life" - A short film on the life of an Indonesia domestic worker
— by IDWFED — last modified Jan 11, 2016 02:16 PMYayang is an Indonesian girl who came to Hong Kong and work, dreaming to improve her quality of life in Indonesia someday. Yet, she is hired as domestic helper by a grassroots family that has unstable financial status. Despite the fact that Yayang is underpaid by her employer, close bond is developed between her and the family. This makes Yayang faces the dilemma of staying or quitting this job for a better salary.
Lebanon: Visualizing Human Rights for Migrant Domestic Workers
— by IDWFED — last modified Dec 24, 2015 09:17 PMIn recognition of International Migrants Day on 18 December, Migrant Workers’ Task Force, AltCity.me, and graphic designer Joumana Ibrahim worked with a group of young graphic designers to visualize migrant workers’ rights and hardships. The result is a series of images that illustrate the human rights abuses brought about by the sponsorship system.
Asia: Leads world in domestic worker numbers, but legal protection, working conditions lag
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 18, 2015 11:01 PMBut although Asia Pacific has more domestic workers than any other part of the world, the report found that the region lags other regions in guaranteeing domestic workers the basic work-related rights and protections that other workers have, in particular related to working time, minimum wages and maternity protection. Only domestic workers in the Middle East (many of whom are migrants from Asia) have weaker legal entitlements.
Global: No to child labour in domestic work - World Day Against Child Labour, June 12
— by IDWFED — last modified Oct 18, 2015 11:07 PMThe ILO estimates that 15.5 million children are engaged in paid or unpaid domestic work in the home of a third party or employer. These children can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Their work is often hidden from the public eye, they may be isolated, and they may be working far away from their family home. Stories of the abuse of children in domestic work are all too common.