Philippines calls on Parliamentarians to address plight of domestic workers

The Philippines called on parliamentarians attending the 131st Inter-Parliamentarian Union (IPU) to address the plight of domestic workers, majority of whom are women and girls on October 15.

The focus of this year’s IPU meeting is gender equality and violence against women and girls.

Senator Pia Cayetano, speaking in behalf of the Philippine delegation led by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, said that there is an urgent need “to provide the domestic workers with even the most basic protection under international laws and convention in order to safeguard their life, welfare and rights as fellow human beings.”

Senator Cayetano added that of the 52.6 million domestic workers worldwide, 83 percent are women. “Close to 30 percent excluded from national labor legislation, 45 percent have no entitlement to weekly rest periods or paid annual leave, more than third of women domestic workers have no maternity protection.”

More alarming, she said, is the “rising prevalence of reported cases of physical abuse and violence against women domestic workers.”

The Philippine delegation called for IPU member parliaments to work for ratification of the International Labor Organization Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers. This ILO Convention seeks to promote decent work for all domestic workers worldwide, especially migrant domestic workers. Currently, only 14 states, including the Philippines, have ratified ILO Convention 189.

The Philippine delegation also called for the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families (ICRMW).

Senator Cayetano emphasized that “together with the ICRMW, ILO Convention 189 embodies the commitment of member states of the ILO and the United Nations to take measures to ensure the effective promotion and protection of human rights of all domestic workers. –http://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/2013-06-27-21-50-36/phl-embassies-and-consulates/4360-philippines-calls-on-parliamentarians-to-address-plight-of-domestic-workers