Domestic Workers Have a Convention!
— June 7, 2011On seating 15 of the deliberations, June 7th, at 9:15pm, the Committee on Domestic Work adopted the text of a long-awaited Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. This is a significant milestone in a 56-year long struggle for the rights of one of the most vulnerable groups of workers in the modern world of work.
As the Chair’s gavel came down to close the session, the workers’ section erupted into impromptu singing, clapping, and dancing in celebration of this landmark event that will change the lives of so many domestic workers.
This moment is significant: workers in the informal sector have been brought into the formal sector for the first time. This represents a ray of hope for others working in the informal sector, that someday their rights will be protected as well.
The triumph surrounding the Convention’s adoption also comes with the realization that the reason for this convention is the harsh reality that exists for many domestic workers throughout the world, who suffer grave abuses on a daily basis. As we celebrate this moment, we must not lose sight of the fact that there is a long road ahead to ensure that these rights, now enshrined in Convention form, must be protected and strengthened.