Geneva: On June 2nd, following interventions by 26 of the participating countries of the International Labour Conference (ILC), five NGOs, including Migrant Forum in Asia, were given the opportunity to deliver statements to the social partners.\u00a0 This provided representatives of international civil society with a platform to present its concerns on remaining contentious points being debated among the employers, workers, and governments as they work towards consensus.<\/p>\n
Central to all of these statements was the need for an understanding that domestic work is real work, worthy of respect, and that domestic workers are workers, like all other workers.\u00a0 Provisions such as the right to collective bargaining, freedom of association, the right to privacy, the implementation of social security schemes, etc. must all be drafted with this core principle in mind.<\/p>\n
Statements were made by the International Union of Food and Agricultural Workers, Human Rights Watch, International Christian Youth, Anti-Slavery International, and Migrant Forum in Asia.<\/p>\n
Speaking for the MFA delegation, Ristanti, an Indonesian domestic worker employed in Singapore, spoke of the importance of a strong ILO Convention and Recommendation.\u00a0 \u201cI thank my employer for giving me permission for a two-week leave so that I could be here to address you today.\u00a0 It is an honour to be a part of this historic moment.\u00a0 But as I stand here, I know that there are millions of other domestic workers who do not share that privilege.\u201d Ristanti called upon the tripartite actors to take into consideration the following areas of concern:<\/p>\n
MFA will continue its engagement\u00a0during the meeting of the workers\u2019 group, as they work to develop a strong position.\u00a0 The MFA delegation will also participate in the drafting of alternative text for the amendment of contentious articles.<\/p>\n