Domestic workers: coverage under

existing international labour standards

Overview

Applicable standards

Specific ILS on migrant workers

ILS of general application

Concerns and progress

Applicable standards

all ILO Conventions and Recommendations, unless expressly specified otherwise

However

Some ILS exclude domestic workers

Which ILS?

• fundamental ILS

• migrant-specific ILS

• ILS of general application

Fundamental ILS

• Freedom of association and collective bargaining

• Forced Labour

• Non-discrimination

• Child labour

Migrant specific ILS

• Convention No. 97equality of treatment (Hong Kong) SAR

• Convention No. 143Part I (Irregular migration and basic

rights)

ILS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

• Wages (C95, C131, C173)

• Working time (C47, C171)

• Employment (C122)

• Termination of employment (158)

• Employment agencies (C88, C96, C181)

• Social security (C19, C102, C118, C183)

• Labour inspection (Protocol C81)

Some common principles

• protection of fundamental rights

• equal (opportunity and) treatment

• Protection of wages and working time

• coverage by labour and social security law

• Adequate monitoring and complaints mechanism

International monitoring

Concernsinequality

forced labour

No freedom of association

employment restrictions

abusive permit systems

Poor working conditions

irregular status if loss of job

No minimum wage protection

Complaints mechanisms

ProgressRegulations on MDW

Coverage labour law

Minimum wage protection

equality legislation

trade union rights

Model contracts

anti-trafficking policy

What is lacking

• application of decent work principles to their special employment relationship

• availability of clear and comprehensive

guidance for guaranteeing them access to decent employment conditions

New instrument(s):Reaffirm international protections

Add value