Society - Domestic workers around the globe have finally won international recognition. The recognition came at the behest of persistent pressure on world leaders to adopt and ratify the 'International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention for Domestic Workers'. On Thursday, June 16, 2011, the world witnessed a historic event when Governments, employers and workers attending the 100th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, adopted the First Convention and accompanying Recommendation on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. Commenting on the historic achievement, Chair of the International Domestic Workers Network, Myrtle Witbooi said "Today we celebrate a great victory for domestic workers. Until now, we have been treated as 'invisible', not respected for the huge contribution we make in society and the economy, and denied our rights as workers. It is an injustice that has lasted too long."

The success chalked by the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN) is a step forward for an estimated 50 to 100 million men, women and children worldwide - working in the homes of their employers.

Some governments attending the ILO conference have already indicated their willingness to ratify the Convention.

A statement signed and released in Accra by the Head, Public Affairs Department, Ghana Trade Union Congress, Kwaku Darko Aferi said domestic workers around the world will continue with their organizational efforts at the national level, to ensure that governments put the content of the Convention into laws for member countries.

The Convention starts by recognizing the "significant contribution of domestic workers to the global economy" and that this work is "undervalued and invisible, and is mainly carried out by women and girls, many of whom are migrants or members of disadvantaged communities".

The Convention affirms that domestic workers' have the same fundamental rights that all workers have: the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

With this Convention, governments have the duty to take measures to make sure that domestic workers enjoy these fundamental rights. They will be asked to take measures ensuring that domestic workers enjoy effective protection against all forms of abuse, harassment and violence.

The IDWN is made of domestic workers' unions and associations around the world, including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, North America, and Europe. Support organizations include International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Wokers' Associations (IUF) and Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO).

Stephen Odoi-Larbi

Ghanaian Chronicle/22/06/2011