ECOP guidelines for household employers of domestic workers

MANILA — The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) is gearing to develop ethical guidelines for household employers of domestic workers to engender the protection of domestic workers’ rights, promote their welfare, and ensure a more harmonious relationship with their employers.

Through the project ECOP is embarking on with the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Confederation is all set to come with the ethical guidelines on the employment of domestic workers.

This will serve as an “important tool” for both ECOP and the local government units (LGUs), in the campaign for decent work among domestic workers.

ECOP President Edgardo G. Lacson said the guidelines are imperative in light of ILO Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and the aligning of national laws to it vis-à-vis global and local realities and trends.

“Domestic workers play an indispensable role not only in the family but also in society in general. Economic activities function well because of the help and contribution of domestic workers,” he said.

“ECOP, therefore, sees the need to protect the industry and its workers. It is just and humane to protect and advance their rights to allow them to grow economically empowered. ECOP respects the fundamental principles and rights of domestic workers. We believe that domestic workers are also workers who need protection from abuse and neglect,” he added.

Lacson noted that the envisioned ethical guidelines will focus on the minimum standards on wages, benefits and working conditions that employers must observe while domestic workers are under their employ.

The guidelines, he added, would also highlight good and best practices on a broad range of issues from hiring to treatment of domestic workers that employers may want to consider in the context of certain circumstances and factors including but not limited to their financial capability.

Relative to this, Lacson said ECOP and its conduits in the various regions would provide the opportunities of enhancing social dialogues among local government units (LGUs), concerned government agencies, household employers, and domestic workers “for a better and more effective campaign towards the protection of the welfare of the domestic workers and the promotion of their rights.” (PNA) RSV/LDV