Join the campaign for domestic workers' rights

This summer, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) agreed a convention on the rights of domestic workers – 53 million workers who are often excluded from rights at work.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has now launched a campaign to encourage 12 states (including the European Union) to endorse the Convention, and started by urging employers to give their domestic workers a day off for Christmas.

These domestic workers clean, cook, do laundry, provide care to children and the elderly and lots more. Their work is undervalued, underpaid, invisible, not recognised, and not respected. The majority of domestic workers are women (82%) – many are migrants or children. (…)

In many countries domestic workers are excluded from labour legislation and social protection schemes. Many are denied the right, either in law or in practice, to form or join a trade union. As a result, mistreatment, exploitation, violence, and physical and sexual abuse are frequent and often go unpunished.

Called "12 by 12", the campaign targets Brazil, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Paraguay, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa as well as the EU. Globally, the campaign will be led by domestic workers themselves, who are often members of trade unions.

Owen Tudor