Domestic Workers Empowerment Programme (DWEP)

About C-BED

C-BED is unique because of the ‘learning without a trainer’ methodology that is applied through a peer to peer, activity-based group model. Participants work together in small groups to solve problems and through sharing existing knowledge and experiences, entrepreneurs are able to help each other understand formal business concepts, like costing or marketing, and develop stronger skills for business improvement. While the programme was originally designed to target aspiring entrepreneurs and micro and small business owners, the training tools are designed to accommodate any individual with an interest in the relevant training topic. Further, as the program has evolved new training tools have been developed in the areas of rights, organizing, and empowerment and are intended for a broader target group.

Project Partners

Government institutions, workers organizations, and civil society partners working with domestic workers in the Philippines.

Target Groups

The intended beneficiaries are domestic workers in the Philippines especially in marginalized areas, aiming for improved domestic working conditions.

Main Activities

With the ratification of ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) and enactment of the Domestic Workers’ Act (Republic Act 10361) by the Philippine Government, ILO continues its support in promoting decent work for domestic workers through the Domestic Workers Empowerment Programme (DWEP), funded by the Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific. Collaboration between ILO and tripartite constituents and other social partners will utilize a training module focusing on the financial and skills development of domestic workers in the Philippines, while reinforcing a sentiment of self-value and empowerment throughout the training.

The concept of DWEP came from previous initiatives like the Community-Based Enterprise Development (C-BED) and Migrant Women Empowerment Programme (MWEP), which was developed by ILO in an effort to make business development training an option in any community. Based on this experience, the project conducted stakeholder mapping and consultations among target implementing partners; designed, developed, and translated a training curriculum and toolkit for self-implementation by domestic workers; and supported domestic-worker associations, trade unions, and government institutions to conduct capacity building and training sessions.

Project Outcomes

The project resulted in:

• A new training toolkit for domestic workers (DWEP) was developed and translated to Filipino, Cebuano and Hiligaynon.
• The capacity of Trade Union leaders was developed to reach out to and organize domestic workers in the Philippines
• DWEP integrated in the overall training programmes and services of the (All Workers Group) Domestic Work TWG and other implementing partners

About the ILO/Japan SSN Fund

This project was made possible through the support of the ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund). The SSN Fund aims to broaden the use of social safety nets through a wide range of projects to extend existing social security systems, promote occupational safety and health (OSH), develop human resources, strengthen labour inspection, eliminate forced labour and foster entrepreneurship. The Fund also responds to natural disasters by implementing crisis response activities in the affected areas to support disaster recovery.