Often called the largest invisible workforce, there are almost 10 million domestic workers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. More than two million are migrant domestic workers. In fact, domestic workers make up nearly 20 percent of all migrant workers in the Asean region. The vast majority of these are women.
As the 10th Asean Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) is taking place on 25-26 October in Manila, the theme “Towards achieving decent work for domestic workers in Asean” was strategically chosen to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers.
It also coincides with the 6th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Domestic Workers (No 189). This international labour standard adopted by all ILO member states in 2011 officially recognises domestic work as work.
It sets out that domestic workers who care for families and households worldwide must have the same basic labour rights as those available to other workers – reasonable hours of work and pay, weekly rest, clear information on terms and conditions of employment, access to social security schemes, and respect for their fundamental principles and rights at work including freedom of association.
The reality is that in most Asean member states, provisions under labour laws do not apply to domestic workers. They are excluded from the protections provided to other workers, such as social security benefits, minimum wage, and limitation in working hours.
In fact, a recent study showed that 61 percent of all domestic workers in Asia were entirely excluded from labour protections, and only three percent enjoyed equal protection with other general workers.
Another ILO report found out that globally, domestic work is the top sector where forced labour is found. Migrant domestic workers are even more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as they are highly dependent on recruiters and employers, work in isolation and lack social networks.
A recent ILO survey showed that migrant domestic workers in two Asean countries work on average 14 hours a day, only 40 percent are given one day off per week, and the vast majority are paid below the minimum wage.
Having a domestic worker to look after our children and elderly is a necessity for many working individuals and families. According to projections, the demand for domestic workers in Asean will be rising due to the ageing of the population, lower fertility rates, women’s increasing labour force participation and a decline in multi-generational households.
However, six years after the adoption of the domestic workers’ convention, only one Asean country, the Philippines, has ratified the ILO Convention 189, with the other nine Asean member states yet to do so.
To be fair, since the founding of Asean in 1967, the first AFML in 2007, and the adoption of Convention 189 in 2011, progress has been made to increase the protection of migrant workers in the region. The discussions at AFML have contributed to some of these achievements.
Gathered at the 10th AFML, senior officials from ministries of labour and other relevant ministries, workers and employers representatives, as well as civil society actors from all ten Asean member states will discuss and adopt a set of recommendations to achieve decent work for domestic workers.
It is time for all Asean governments to recognise domestic work as work, and ensure that their laws and policies provide the same protection as all other workers.
It is time for all employers of domestic workers to recognise that domestic workers are neither servants nor “members of the family,” but workers that should have the same rights as other workers.
It is time to renew the commitment taken 50 years ago to collaborate for a better future for all women and men. A future that recognises decent work for all, including domestic workers.
