PERC

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PERC   Conference Challenge of informal
economy in Europe Interests of and services to
special groups of workers Domestic workers at
the international level    Karin Pape 11 February
2010 - Budapest  
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Occupational categories
i.e. Household employee cleaning personnel
washerwoman, ironing personnel, maid
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i.e. child minder, nanny, elder caregiver, cook
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Despite all obstacles Domestic workers organize
Hong Kong
Thailand
Switzerland
USA
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Domestic Workers organize internationally

• 2006 Amsterdam Conference
• 2008 Meeting in Geneva forming Steering
  Committee
• 2009 Attending ILC creating an international
  structure (name International Domestic Workers
  Network IDWN)

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ILO Process
Time What is happening
March 2009 ILO sends the Law and Practice report , including a questionnaire to member States. Governments are requested to consult with the most representative workers and employers organization
August (September) 2009 Deadline for submission of replies to the questionnaire
January (February) 2010 ILO sends a second report analysis of the answers to the questionnaire and a draft instrument
June 2010 First discussion at the ILC decision on the form of the instrument Convention/Recommendation/Instrument combining the two
August 2010 ILO sends a third report draft insturment(s) on the basis of the negotiations
November 2010 Deadline for submitting comments on the third report
March 2011 ILO office sends two reports 1. analysis of the comments received on the third report, 2. new draft of instrument(s) in the light of the comments received
June 2011 Second discussion at ILC Any agreed instrument will be adopted or rejected by the Plenary of ILC
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Demands of domestic workers

• ILO Convention (not only Recommendation)
• Recognition as workers inclusion in
  international and national labour laws (access to
  social protection schemes)
• Right to organize (Freedom of association)
• Provsions taking into account their special
  situation - among others maternity rights,
  regulation of working time, health and safety
  provisions, inclusion into national statistics

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Example of exclusion/inclusion of domestic
workers Minimum Wage Provisions

• Exclusion Denmark, Finland, Switzerland (apart
  from Geneva), Croatia
• Inclusion Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands,
  Portugal, Spain, UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
  Estonia, Romania, Turkey
• ILO report Decent Work for Domestic Workers.
  Can be downloaded in different languages from the
  ILO/Travail home page http//www.ilo.org/public/
  english/protection/condtrav/index.htm

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Payments in kind (lodging, food)

• Payments in kind prohibited Austria, Czech
  Republic (possible if wage is higher than minimum
  wage), Republic of Moldova
• Payments in kind permitted up to 25 of
  remuneration Russian Federation
• Payments in kind permitted of up to 50 of
  remuneration Spain
• ILO report Decent work for Domestic Workers

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Good practice examples of unions in Europe
organizing domestic workers

• UK UNITE (former T G) Kalayaan
• Geneva/Switzerland SIT UNIA
• Netherlands Bondgenoten Trusted Migrants
  (RESPECT)

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Expectations of domestic workers (re unions)

• Recognizing domestic workers as workers
• Political support campaigning for their rights
  as workers
• Supporting special categories of domestic
  workers especially (undocumented) migrant
  domestic workers

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Expectations of domestic workers ILO process

• Lobby work with the governments especially in
  Europe
• Support during the negotiations
• Support in campaigning hopefully - for
  ratification of the Convention