Migrant and local workers and trade union groups on Monday reaffirmed their call for a new international treaty on promoting decent work for domestic workers.
The workers made the call during the “Working World Trialogues” spearheaded by the Institute for Labor Studies of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) over the weekend. The summit included those from employers' group, government, workers' associations and non-government organizations (NGOs).
“Domestic work has historical ties to slavery. Promoting decent work for domestic workers through a new international convention will finally break the chains of bonded labor,’’ said Julius Cainglet, spokesperson of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW).
He noted that several international treaties in the form of an International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention outline labor rights but “conspicuously leave out or exclude domestic workers from its coverage.”
These treaties include, among others, the “Holidays with Pay Convention (No. 132),” “Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155),” “Night Work Convention (No. 171)” and “Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183).”
Meanwhile, Linda Wirth, director of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Subregional Office based in Manila, described domestic work as an “invisible’’ occupation despite its value on both the household and the economy.
“It is the oldest and most important occupation for many women around the world, but is invisible - undervalued and poorly regulated. Domestic work is work with serious decent work deficits,” said Wirth during her presentation of the highlights of the ILO Domestic Workers Law and Practice Report.
Moreover, a number of workers’ groups are yet to give their full support for a new ILO Convention on domestic work.
Romeo Garcia, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) Research and Advocacy Manager and who was among the speakers at the summit said, “while we see the need for a new international instrument, we think that it should come in the form of a recommendation.’’
“A recommendation will accommodate more detailed and specific provisions which can be liberally adopted or interpreted by each state to conform with local situation and circumstances,” he added.
Unlike an International Convention, which shall be binding to a state once it is ratified, a recommendation will serve as a guide for the crafting of national laws and policies. States here are not obligated to implement its provision because it is not open for ratification, it was learned.
Loreto Soriano, Executive Director of the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters, did not also comment on the creation of the new international instrument, but renewed calls to amend Republic Act 8042 or Magna Carta for Migrant Workers, which he said “provides for too much regulation of recruitment agencies.’’
The government, on the other hand, has kept mum on the issue but expressed that its internal process of consultation on decent work for domestic workers has commenced.
“Internally, the DoLE Technical Working Group has already come up with a position,” said Labor and Employment Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresa Soriano.
Flor Cabatingan of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), who delivered the consolidated position of workers groups, reiterated among others the "need for a written contract" and the "prohibition and criminalization of confiscation by employers of travel and personal documents of migrant domestic workers."
Participants to the summit believe that employers and government still have time to review their positions until tripartite partners meet again.
The Technical Working Group on the Philippine Campaign on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and the Visayan Forum will be holding the 2nd National Domestic Workers’ Summit on August 20-21 at the Occupational Safety and Health Center, Quezon City.
Cainglet said the Philippine government has until the end of the month to submit the accomplished questionnaire on domestic work to the ILO in Geneva
