Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Latest campaign update from Anti-Slavery International on the drafting of the new ILO Convention.
Last night at the International Labour Conference (ILO) in Geneva, the discussion on the final text of the Domestic Work Convention, which includes provisions for child domestic workers, was agreed and adopted by the drafting Committee. However, the official adoption of the text will take place during the Plenary and vote on the 15th and 16th June. The bad news was that the UK was the only country in the world opposing the text of an article in the Convention that will ensure protection for domestic workers from hazards and accidents at work. The UK made a statement in its own name (it is very rare that countries speak only for themselves) and their decision to stand alone on such an issue is a very hostile act. Apparently there were audible gasps from the other delegates in the room when they read out their statement. Further to this, the UK was the only one of all 27 EU states that refused to sign up to an amendment to the Recommendation which is guidance accompanying the Convention. This provides for the possibility of agreeing voluntary codes of conduct between countries to prevent abuse of domestic workers working for diplomats and offers resolution procedures in cases of abuse. Domestic workers working for diplomats are twenty times more likely to find themselves in slavery than normal domestic workers. We are hoping these issues will be raised in the House of Lords today. Further information