All ILO Newsroom content

December 2012

1. 

   Public Service Announcement

   Migrant domestic workers in Europe: Graciela's story

   18 December 2012

   Today, thousands of migrants live and work as domestic workers in European countries. They give essential services to families and societies, yet their work is often undervalued and taken for granted. Domestic workers are real workers - like you and I. Respect their work, respect their rights!

2. 

   Public Service Announcement

   Migrant domestic workers in Europe: Coring's story

   18 December 2012

   Today, thousands of migrants live and work as domestic workers in European countries. They give essential services to families and societies, yet their work is often undervalued and taken for granted. Domestic workers are real workers - like you and I. Respect their work, respect their rights!

October 2012

1. Labour rights

   Domestic workers in Europe falling through the loopholes

   24 October 2012

   Many domestic workers in Europe do not enjoy as much legal protection as other workers. ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers – which will come into force in a year’s time – offers a chance to improve the lives of the millions of people who work in this profession.

September 2012

1. 

   European labour migration

   From public sector worker in Portugal to cleaner in Switzerland

   20 September 2012

   As protests spread in southern Europe – especially in Greece, Spain and Portugal – against austerity measures, more and more people hit by the crisis are moving to northern countries in search of decent jobs. Public sector workers are not an exception.

2. 

   Convention N° 189

   Landmark treaty for domestic workers to come into force

   05 September 2012

   The ILO’s Convention on Domestic Workers has now been ratified by two countries, meaning it will come into effect in a year’s time. The Convention extends basic labour rights to tens of millions of domestic workers worldwide.

3. 

   From the Philippines

   Labour rights recognized for Filipino domestic workers

   05 September 2012

   The Philippines' ratification of ILO Convention 189 officially extends basic labour rights to domestic workers and will bring the convention into force within the year. But what does passing this landmark legislation actually change in the life of a maid working in the Philippines?

4. 

   From the Philippines

   Domestic work is no longer a “domestic issue”

   05 September 2012

   The ratification of ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers by the Philippines this week breaks new ground in extending basic labour rights to the nearly 100 million of domestic workers worldwide. We look at what it will mean for these workers when the Convention comes into force next year.

August 2012

1. 

   Article

   Time for Arabs to live up to their call for social justice by protecting vulnerable workers

   15 August 2012

   Which Arab country will be the first to ratify the Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers?

July 2012

1. 

   Video News Release

   Uruguay takes the lead to protect domestic workers

   24 July 2012

   Providing protection for the world's millions of domestic workers has taken a major step forward. In April 2012, Uruguay became the first country to ratify ILO Convention 189, the landmark treaty guaranteeing domestic workers get the same core labour protections as other workers. Uruguay has long been a leader in protecting the rights of domestic workers, but ratifying the convention demanded a unique approach; a group of Uruguayan housewives were called on to represent the employers of domestic workers at the bargaining table.

June 2012

1. 

   News

   One year on, Uruguay is first to ratify ILO domestic work Convention

   14 June 2012

   Uruguay becomes the first to ratify the ILO’s standard-setting Convention on Domestic Workers. The international treaty aims to improve the lives of domestic workers worldwide in the face of huge decent work deficits.