An ILO migrant domestic worker forum addresses migration for three significant regions

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (ILO News) – Madagascar’s Minister of Employment, Technical Education and Vocational Training, Ms. Marie Lydia Toto Raharimalala, has opened an inter-regional workshop hosted by the European Union funded ILO Global Action Programme on Migrant Domestic Workers and Their Families (GAP-MDW).

"Millions of women and girls around the globe are employed as domestic workers in private households, playing a critical role for supporting families and economies. However despite their important role, they are among the most exploited and abused workers in the world,” Minister Toto Raharimalala said in opening remarks.

The workshop, taking place from 5-7 May, brings together policy makers, worker and employer organizations to share good practice and experience in realizing a fair migration agenda for migrant domestic workers in Africa, the Arab States and Asia.

"Compared to international standards, institutional and legal protection for migrant domestic women workers remains very weak in most parts of the world," said the Minister, who also announced plans to begin the ratification process of the 2011 ILO Domestic Workers Convention (189).

Among other items, the meeting will hear initial findings from a report, slated for full release in June, on resources, practices and initiatives for promoting MDW rights.

According to the ILO 2015 Global Estimates on Migrant Workers Report, the Arab States host the most migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in the world, estimated at 1.6 million individuals, with a large number of those coming from Africa and Asia.

Nearly one in five domestic workers in the world is a migrant. Globally, that means there are some 11.5 million migrant domestic workers - overwhelmingly women – cleaning, cooking, caring and with other duties, often with little or no social or legal protection.

MDWs are particularly exposed to violations of human and labour rights, given their migration status, the absence of protection and assistance mechanisms in both home and destination countries, low social status, and the often informal nature of their work.

Since 2013, the GAP-MDW has been partnering with worker and employer organizations, as well as policy makers, to address MDW vulnerabilities through research, information sharing and advocacy. The programme draws on the experience of pilot initiatives in five migration corridors including: Ukraine-Poland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe-South Africa, Indonesia-Malaysia, Nepal-Lebanon and Paraguay-Argentina.

Contact: Jared Bloch, Global Action Programme on Migrant Domestic Workers (GAP-MDW). Mobile: +41(0)78/683-4407 Email: [email protected]