Webinar: Working in Freedom, Mobility with Choice!

Drawing upon lessons learned by ILO’s 10-year Work in Freedom programme (2013-24) supported by the UK FCDO on preventing trafficking and forced labour conditions for migrant domestic workers, the global webinar discussed:

• Progress made and challenges faced by migrant domestic workers in accessing trade unions and expanding spaces for collective bargaining and freedom of association.
• Source, destination and fair recruitment-related challenges and innovative approaches developed by ILO and IDWF
• Role of knowledge-sharing, regional processes and global collaboration to galvanise support for domestic workers' rights, recognising their role in the care economy and ratification campaigns of relevant ILO Conventions

The webinar brought together domestic workers and their union leaders from across the globe, as well as policymakers and ILO experts from over 30 countries, to reflect upon lessons learned on preventing trafficking and forced labour of migrant domestic workers by the ILO’s Work in Freedom programme. Highlighting common patterns in experiencing a lack of local employment opportunities and poor working conditions at the destination, the webinar witnessed a discussion on ways forward to strengthen domestic workers' voices and demands through collective strategizing and providing support at source and destination.

More information on ILO’s Work in Freedom programme, supported by the UK FCDO, is available here.