16 June: International Domestic Workers Day

On 16 June 2011, the world celebrated the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (ILO Convention No. 189). Convention No. 189 was an historic  victory that recognized domestic workers as workers like any other. Since then, 70 countries have taken measures to adopt or reform law and policy, including 24 countries that have ratified Convention No. 189.

The sector is yet again on the cusp of major change, as governments prepare to negotiate global compacts on migration and refugees with the objective of developing a framework for comprehensive international cooperation on human mobility and refugee response by July 2018.

In many countries, domestic workers are refugees or migrants. How these global compacts unfold will impact the working and living conditions for domestic workers for many years to come.

In 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.

Because domestic work is not respected and frequently unprotected, they often don’t find the safety and security they need, and once again face situations vulnerable to exploitation, violence, and intimidation.

The IDWF calls for "All for one, One for all: Dignity and Decent Work for all National, Migrant and Refugee Domestic Workers".

Also the WSM partners in India mobilized during this day.

CFTUI demanded the Central Govt. to ratify the Convention 189 in favour of Domestic Workers at VJF Press Club at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh State.

NDWM Maharashtra organised a Rally and Public Meeting, as well a post card campaign which was launched to demand the Government of Maharashtra to amend the Maharashtra Domestic Workers Welfare Board Act of 2008 and to fix a minimum wage for domestic workers.