Philippines soon to enforce Convention 189 for domestic workers

Swift enforcement of ILO rule on domestic work seen 

Sunday, June 3, 2012 SunStar

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is highly anticipating the immediate entry into force of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention 189 Concerning Decent work for Domestic Workers.

Dole Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the ILO Convention 189 could become one of the fastest if only the Philippine Senate would ratify it immediately.

“The anticipated completion of the Philippines’s process of ratification of ILO Convention 189 is expected to make it one of the fastest-ratified ILO Conventions in history,” said Baldoz.

She said, however, that this will only be possible if the Senate would follow the actions of President Benigno Aquino III, who ratified the Convention last May 18.

“We welcome this development and we hope the Senate will concur in its ratification,” said Baldoz.

The official explained that in doing so, the Convention would meet its requirement of being ratified by two members before being entered into force.

“The Philippine ratification would complete the required two ILO member-states to put the Convention into force,” stressed Baldoz.

Earlier, Uruguay ratified the ILO Convention 189. The Philippines played a leading role toward its adoption by the 183 member-states of the ILO during the 100th Session of the International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland last June 16, 2011.

Last May 18, Aquino ratified the ILO Convention 189 and promptly sent the Instrument of Ratification to the Senate for their concurrence.

The ILO Convention sets the standards for decent work for domestic workers and provides them with the same protection, respect, and dignity accorded to other workers.

Specifically, each ILO member-state shall be pressed to take measures mentioned in the Convention to ensure the effective promotion and protection of the human rights of all domestic workers and to respect, promote and realize the fundamental principles and rights at work of domestic workers, namely: (a) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; (b) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; (c) the effective abolition of child labor; and (d) elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. (HDT/Sunnex)