Decent work for migrant domestic workers
OFTEN called the largest invisible workforce, there are almost 10 million domestic workers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. More than two million are migrant domestic workers. In fact, domestic workers make up nearly 20 percent of all migrant workers in the ASEAN region. The vast majority are women.
As the 10th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labor (AFML) is taking place on October 25-26 in Manila, the theme “Towards Achieving Decent Work for Domestic Workers in ASEAN” was strategically chosen to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers.
It also coincides with the 6th anniversary of International Labour Organization (ILO) convention on Domestic Workers (No. 189). This international labor standard adopted by all ILO member states in 2011 officially recognizes domestic work as work. It sets out that domestic workers who care for families and households worldwide must have the same basic labor rights as those available to other workers: Reasonable hours of work and pay, weekly rest, clear information on terms and conditions of employment, access to social security schemes, and respect for their fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association.
In reality, in most ASEAN member states, provisions under labor laws do not apply to domestic workers, thereby excluding them from the protection provided to other workers such as social security benefits, minimum wage, and limitation in working hours. In fact, a recent study showed that 61 percent of all domestic workers in Asia were entirely excluded from labor protections, and only 3 percent enjoyed equal protection with other general workers.
Another ILO report found out that globally, domestic work is the top sector where forced labor is found. Migrant domestic workers are even more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as they are highly dependent on recruiters and employers, work in isolation and lack social networks. A recent ILO survey showed that migrant domestic workers in two ASEAN countries work on average 14 hours a day, only 40 percent are given one day off per week, and the vast majority are paid below the minimum wage.
Having a domestic worker that look after our children and elderly is a necessity for many men and women to pursue a career outside their homes. According to projections, the demand for domestic workers in ASEAN will be rising due to population’s ageing, lower fertility rates, women’s increasing labor force participation, and a decline of multi-generational households.