Domestic Workers Convention
ILO Treaty Now Legally Binding
The Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers came into force on 5th September 2013. It is reported that there are 50-100 million domestic workers in our world. These workers are mainly girls and women. Their tasks include cooking, cleaning and looking after children and the elderly. Such workers are often poor and employed outside their home country, making them particularly vulnerable to abuse and slavery. The treaty gives employees the right to claim basic rights, including days off each week, set hours and the minimum wage. Eight countries have ratified the convention, including Italy, the Philippines, South Africa and Bolivia. More are poised to follow suit, including Germany and Switzerland.
