Housecleaners, nannies, and many woman workers all over the
world (forty countries) gathered in Uruguay with community organizers and trade
unionists to establish the first global federation of domestic workers. This was this past October. Over two years ago on Sept. 5 2011, the first
global labor standard, the ILO Domestic Workers Convention was entered at a
very similar gathering. Since the
adoption of this domestic workers treaty, these people who gathered in Uruguay
have helped to bring out new laws and protections to domestic workers in over
25 countries, as well as adding new members.
Ten countries have ratified the treaty since its inception:
Uruguay, the Philipines, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Italy, Bolivia, Paraguay, South
Africa, Guyana, and Germany. Some of the
efforts taken by the Philippines address the risks faced by migrant workers,
specifically they have prohibited employment agencies and employers from
charging recruitment fees from workers.
Other countries who signed the treaty are following suit, e.g. Argentina
setting a 48 hour work week and more.
This can be seen as a demonstration that serious enforcement
against forced labor and stronger rights for laborers in general advances
rights and protection for trafficking victims.
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