A New Era of Social Justice
for the WorldsÕ Domestic Workers
Historic Resolution During UN International Labour Organization 100th Session
(Copyright 2011 Ariel Consulting International)
7 July 2011
Dr. Ariel Rosita
King, MPH, MBA, PhD, DTM&H International Federation of University Women, ILO
Representative
In the International Labour
Organization 100th Session, the charismatic and outspoken leader of the
ILO, Director-General Juan Somavia genuinely believes in and promotes
Òsocial Justice.Ó As stated in his
report,
ÒILO values and policies are needed more than ever. In
this context, it is very clear that the Decent
Work Agenda and a working ILO Tripartism
(government, employers and workers) bring the possibility of better, more Ôinclusive
growth, or more peace, more equity and rights, less poverty and more stable
development in economies, enterprises, workplaces and, ultimately, in society.Ó
ÒIn these troubled times, I truly believe that the ILO
has the values to support a shift away from a policy paradigm which is both
discredited and inefficient. Constructing a new patter of growth through rapid
and sustained increases in decent work is urgently needed. I should fully
mobilize the representatives of the world of work assembled at the 100 session
of the International Labour Conference; it should
also fully mobilise the highest political authorities
in every country, in regional institution, as well as in multilateral
institutions.
ÒThis is a challenge which honours
our legacy. But I have no doubt that, if we act with self-assurance on our
values and policies, our vision will pave the way for a more prosperous world
for all.Ó
A
New Era of Social Justice
Social Justice, is a term that is mostly thought of
when talking about the equity of human rights. Social Justice is the foundation of
all work for the International Labour Organization.
During the 100th Session of the ILO in Geneva, this term transformed
into action was apparent when the delegates representing each country voted to
formally recognize the Òinformal economyÕ of domestic workers.
In the ILOÕs ÒtripartismÓ of
government, employers and workers, with equal consideration, the fundamental
principal of Òsocial justiceÓ allows for the very distinct groups to meet at an
access point for the good of all three.
Domestic Workers
Worldwide there has been increasing recognition, nationally
and internationally, of the economic and social value of domestic work and of
the need to improve the living and working conditions for the 50-100 million domestic
workers.. ÒIt was considered necessary to adopt international standards on this
subject given the historical and continued exclusion of domestic worker, mainly
women and girls, from labour protection. Setting new
standards on domestic work presented an unprecedented opportunity for the ILO
to break into the informal economy and deliver decent work to millions of the
worldsÕ most vulnerable workersÓ said DG Somavia.
Domestic workers, usually women and girls perform a range of
tasks for and in other peoplesÕ households. They may cook, clean, wash the
laundry, and look after children, the elderly or persons with disability,
gardeners, guardians or family chauffeurs. They are often excluded, from labour and social protection. Part of the reason for this
is that domestic work takes place in the home and involves, to a large extent,
tasks that women and girls have traditionally carried out without pay.
The ILO Convention and Recommendation on
domestic workers provides legal recognition of domestic work as (formal) work, and
extend rights to all domestic workers to prevent violations and abuses. The
instruments provide a global framework of minimum standards for extending labour and social protection to domestic workers.
The
convention on Domestic workers calls for reasonable hours of work, weekly rest
of at least 24 consecutive hours, a limit on in-kind payment, clear information
on terms and conditions of employment, as well as respect of the rights
associated with employment, including the freedom of association and the right
to collective bargaining. The Convention on Domestic
Workers (2011) was adopted by a vote of 434 with 8 against and 42 abstentions.
It states that all domestic workers must have basic labour
rights as enjoyed by other workers. The convention come will go into force
after it is ratified by two countries.
The Adoption of the Convention on
Domestic Workers is the ideal of sustainable development for social justice. In
closing, the Director General stated, Òthe world needs a new era of social
justice inspired by a vision of sustainable development.
An era where peopleÕs need, care for our
planet Earth and fairness guide our policy making, an era where the benefits of
globalization are shared equitably; an era that can spark hope in our youth,
creativity in our societies and he credibility of our public and private
policies and institutions; an era where the dignity of work is promoted and
respected; an era where voice, participation and democracy flourish.
Whether this remains just an idealized
vision of a desired future, or become a practical reality that take hold in our
societies, will depend in many ways on the courage, conviction, ability and
will power of the ILO and it constituents and on our capacity to work together
and with others to pave the way for this new era.Ó
Resources
A New Era of Social
Justice, Report of the Director-General, International Labour
Conference, 100th Session, 2011.
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_155656.pdf
Convention on
Domestic Workers (2011) (Provisional record)
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_157836.pdf
PR
No. 15A - Text of the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, Domestic Workers
Provisional Record 15A/1 (2011)
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_157836.pdf
Decent Work for
Domestic Workers, Report IV (1) International Labour
Conference, 100th Session 2011, first edition 2010.
http://www2.ilo.org/public/libdoc/ilo/2009/109B09_24_engl.pdf
Decent Work for
domestic workers, Report IV (2A) Bilingual edition (English and French)
International Labour Conference, 2011.
http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/ilo/2011/111B09_25_engl.pdf
Decent Work for
domestic workers, Report IV (2B) Bilingual edition (English and French) International
Labour Conference, 2011.
http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/ilo/2011/111B09_26_e,f.pdf
Give Girls A
Chance: Tackling Child Labour, a Key to the Future
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a360f4f2.html
Relevant International Instruments
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.ohchr.org/en/udhr/pages/language.aspx?langid=eng
The International
Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/pdf/cerd.pdf
Convention on the
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cedaw.htm
United Nations
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
especially Women and Children
http://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNTOC/Publications/TOC%20Convention/TOCebook-e.pdf
Convention on the
Rights of the Child
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/pdf/crc.pdf
International
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of the Migrant Workers and Members
of Their Families
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/pdf/cmw.pdf
Websites
Decent work for
Domestic Workers (ILO website)
Office of the United
Nations High Commission for Human Rights
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/Pages/HumanRightsBodies.aspx
UN Women
United Nations
Office of Drugs and Crime