ILO: Domestic workers in Asia ‘most vulnerable’

The International Labour Organization (ILO) said Asia, including the Middle East, lags behind other regions in providing good employment conditions for domestic workers.

In a statement released on Friday, the ILO noted that 95 percent or more of domestic workers in Asia receive salaries that are below the minimum wage.

These workers usually do not get a regular weekly rest. There is also no limit on their weekly hours of work, the ILO noted.

On the other hand, only 42 to 46 percent of domestic workers in other regions experience these work conditions, the ILO said.

“In the Philippines, domestic workers receive 50 percent of the minimum wage in the National Capital Region, and less than 45 percent in other parts of the country,” the ILO said.

Despite the lower pay, they work much longer than other workers who receive a minimum wage, the ILO stressed.

“In Indonesia, it is estimated that 81 percent work more than 11 hours per day; in the
Philippines, about half work more than 10 hours a day,” the ILO noted.

100th ILO annual conference

The issues concerning domestic workers prompted delegates of the 100th annual Conference of the ILO to adopt international standards aimed at improving the working conditions of domestic workers worldwide.

The annual conference is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from June 1 to 17.

According to a news release on the ILO website, Juan Somavia, ILO Director-General, said “We are moving the standards system of the ILO into the informal economy for the first time, and this is a breakthrough of great significance.”

The ILO said the Philippine government, through the Department of Labor and Employment chaired the committee on Domestic Workers.

Recent ILO estimates based on national surveys and/or censuses of 117 countries place the number of domestic workers at a minimum of 53 million.

However, experts say there could be 100 million domestic workers worldwide, considering that this kind of work is often hidden and unregistered.

In developing countries, domestic workers make up at least 4 to 12 per cent of wage employment. Around 83 per cent of these workers are women or girls.

Domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because they work in private homes (unseen, isolated from other workers), yet are largely excluded from labor and social protection.

The newly adopted Convention establishes minimum standards that will provide reater protection to domestic workers.

According to the ILO, the new Convention will be enforced after two countries have ratified it.

Encouraging initiatives

Still, the ILO noted encouraging initiatives in Asia.

The Philippines and Indonesia both have pending legislative bills which establish minimum labor standards and legal rights for domestic workers.

Although similar bills have been filed in both countries in the last four to five years, these were not passed.

In India, a national policy is being developed to cover domestic workers by existing laws. — CMA/OMG/VVP, GMA News