A new information guide for Zimbabwean Migrant Domestic Workers in South Africa

BEITBRIDGE (ILO News) - The Information Guide for Zimbabwean migrant domestic Workers in South Africa was officially launched in Zimbabwe on July 18, 2016 in Beitbridge. The launch was officiated by the Permanent Secretary, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Ngoni Masoka.

The Guide, “Migrant domestic workers: Know your rights and obligations” provides useful information about migration regulations and procedures, as well as about labour legislation and protection for domestic workers in South Africa.

It also offers reliable and practical information to would-be migrants from Zimbabwe planning to work or are already employed as domestic workers in South Africa. It highlights what one should know before taking the decision to leave and when preparing to exit Zimbabwe and; during their stay in South Africa; and their rights and obligations as a human being and as a domestic worker.

This practical tool also provides information about sending money back home and returning safely to Zimbabwe. A section provides useful contact details and resources from the Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg, the Embassy in Pretoria, Domestic Worker Trade Unions, Police, Health and Emergency Services.

Migration by choice

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, pointed out that many Zimbabweans have therefore taken outward migration as a coping mechanism to mitigate against the socio-economic challenges. He, however noted that in some cases the migration has been characterised by incidences of irregular migration, including undocumented migrant workers, human trafficking and smuggling particularly across our shared borders. He also thanked the European Union for the support towards efforts aimed at enhancing decent work opportunities for domestic workers in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Supporting messages were delivered by the Director of the ILO Country Office for Namibia and Zimbabwe, Ms Hopolang Phororo; who said ‘The ILO recognizes the specific vulnerabilities to which migrant domestic workers are exposed and the need to improve labour and migration laws and policies. This recognition saw the International Organisation adopting a stand-alone Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, 2011 (No. 189) and its Recommendation No. 201 in 2011.’ The Convention recognises the rights of domestic workers to organize and form trade unions.

The Zimbabwe Domestic and Allied Workers Union; General Secretary, Mr Toindepi Dhure speaking at the launch urged government to close the gaps in law and practice to increase the recognition and protection of domestic workers. He said domestic workers continue to be masked under the familial working arrangements that includes long hours and in the absence of pensions, receiving meagre gratuities on termination of employment. The South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers’ Union, Secretary General, Ms Myrtle Witbooi in her remarks confirmed that their union had over 650 Zimbabwean members.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Southern Region Representative, and Mr Manasseh Vunganai welcomed the support towards promoting decent work for domestic workers. The Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe President Mr Josephat Kahwema urged the governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe to facilitate the regularisation of domestic workers to ensure that they contribute meaningfully to both economies.

The launch was attended by government stakeholders from Zimbabwe representing labour, immigration, correctional services and law enforcement agencies, as part of the cross-border Limpopo Forum. Civil Society Organisations were also represented by three NGOs led by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) and its four (4) implementing partners in The Development Practitioners of Zimbabwe Trust, Together As One, Zimbabwe HIV/Aids Activists Union Community Trust (ZHAAUCT) and Zimbabwe Community Development Association; under the ‘Rights of Migrants in Action Programme’. The Rights of Migrants in Action Programme is a sister intervention also supported by the EU and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The Labour and Immigration Departments represented stakeholders from South Africa. The Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria and the Consulate in Johannesburg was represented by the Consular General, Mr B.H. Mukonoweshuro and Mr. E. Chawoneka, the Vice Consular General.

Background information

The launch was the first of a trio of final activities under the ILO/EU Global Action Programme on Migrant Domestic Workers that started in 2013. The Programme was implemented in five migration corridors: the Nepal-Lebanon and Indonesia-Malaysia in Asia, Paraguay-Argentina in South America, Ukraine-Poland in Europe and the Zimbabwe-South Africa-Lesotho. The Programme sought to enhance research and practical knowledge on migrant domestic workers in order to distil policy implications and translate them into concrete support to governments and social partners, and to enhance capacities of relevant organizations and practitioners to advocate for migrant domestic workers access to decent work.

In the case of Zimbabwe-South Africa-Lesotho corridor, the Global Action Programme supported a number of country specific activities that include, integrating a labour migration module in the 2014 Labour Force and Child Work Survey; a National Labour Migration Information Sharing Workshop (July 2015); the participation of two Ministry of Labour officials and a trade unionist from the Zimbabwe Domestic and Allied Workers Union in Labour migration courses at the International Training Centre for the ILO (Turin, Italy); and, a tri-national meeting of trade unions and domestic workers organizations and a national workshop to strengthen capacities of domestic workers organizations.