Committee on Domestic Workers: Comments by Barbados Workers’ Delegate

Press release | 17 June 2011

Geneva, 16 June 2011 (ACTRAV INFO) – “Freedom of association and collective bargaining are fundamental for domestic workers’ stability in employment,” commented Barbados Workers’ Delegate Toni Moore, following the elaboration of a Convention and Recommendation on domestic workers.

Speaking on behalf of Halimah Yacob, the Workers’ Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Domestic Workers, the Barbados Workers’ Delegate pointed out that “the Convention requests that member States take measures to promote the fundamental principles and rights at work”.

“We have,” she explained, “given particular attention to the application of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), as these are the enabling rights that set the stage for the achievement of other rights and improved conditions.” She was speaking during the adoption of the report of the Committee on Domestic Workers.

Ms Moore also emphasized the need for member States to commit to ratifying the Domestic Workers Convention.

“The work is far from over,” she insisted. “The Workers’ group knows that once we have handed these instruments over to the ILO tomorrow, our next task will be to ensure that national laws, regulations and collective agreements build on the consensus we have reached.”

Read Committee on Domestic Workers: Ms MOORE (Worker, Barbados; speaking on behalf of the Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Domestic Workers)