Gov’t urged to ratify Convention 189

Domestic Workers Service Union in collaboration with Trades Union Congress (TUC? and International Union of Food and Agriculture (IUF? has called on government to ratify Convention 189 to protect domestic workers.

The ILO convention, was adopted in Geneva, Switzerland by 185 member states.

ILO’s annual conference adopted this historic set of international standards aimed at improving the working conditions of tens of millions of domestic workers worldwide.

Ms Adowa Sakyi, IUF Regional Women’s Coordinator, marking the Domestic Workers Day in Accra, said domestic workers are equally important as formal workers.

She said without their contribution most formal office workers would not have the right mindset to work as much time is spent thinking about the state of condition in their houses.

“Please Help Recognize Domestic Services Workers and Ratify Convention 189,” which is the theme for the celebration, is a call on governments to enforce the law, which would help domestic workers to be recognised and respected, Ms Sakyi said.

She said the ILO convention has 29 articles, which states clearly the conditions needed for an employee to employ a worker, how the worker is to be treated, as well as what they are to be paid.

Ms Sakyi said Article one of the Conventions defines domestic work as “work performed in or for a household or households; and the term domestic worker refers to any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship”.

She said Convention 189 mandates employers of domestic workers not to deprive their workers below 18 years the right to education or interfere with their opportunities to further their education or vocational training.

Ms Sakyi said the ILO Convention states that the work load of every child aged 15 should be lessened to ensure their participation in school activities.

She said a campaign tagged: “My Fair Home Campaign,” has been launched, which seeks to draw the attention of employers to recognise the dignity of domestic workers.

Ms Rose Quaye, Deputy Head of TUC Organisational Department, said it is time to halt all the discriminations against domestic workers.

She said though slavery has come to an end, “some domestic workers experience it every now and then due to the magnitude of tasks they perform”.

Ms Quaye urged domestic workers to serve their employers in truth and with all humility and also treat their wards well so that they could all live in harmony.