Domestic workers in Asia lack social benefits

MANILA, Philippines — Around five million workers in Asia and the Pacific are not enjoying social benefits and labor protection, six years after the adoption of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Domestic Workers.

Tomoko Nishimoto, ILO assistant director general, said the Philippines is the only Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) country that ratified the ILO convention.

Nishimoto said nine other ASEAN members have yet to ratify the international labor standards, which ensure that domestic workers have the same labor rights as other workers.

“In reality, most provisions of labor laws do not apply to domestic workers, depriving them of protection such as social security benefits, minimum wage and limited number of working hours,” he said.

According to Nishimoto, results of a recent study showed that 61 percent of domestic workers in Asia were excluded from labor protection.

He said only three percent of household workers enjoyed equal protection with other workers.

Another ILO report showed that globally, domestic work is the top sector where forced labor is prevalent.

ILO said migrant domestic workers are more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse as they are dependent on recruiters and employers, work in isolation and lack social networks.

It was reported that overseas domestic workers work on average 14 hours a day and only 40 percent are given one day off per week.

There are around 10 million domestic workers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

According to Nishimoto, domestic workers comprised nearly 20 percent of all migrant workers in the ASEAN region and a majority of them are women.

ILO said the demand for domestic workers in ASEAN is projected to rise due to the region’s aging population, declining fertility rates and the increasing participation of women in labor force.              

“It is time for employers not to treat domestic workers as servants as they are entitled to labor rights as other workers,” Nishimoto said.

Labor ministers, workers, employers and representatives from 10 ASEAN members will gather for a two-day forum at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila starting tomorrow to discuss recommendations to achieve decent work for domestic workers.

The theme of the 10th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labor dubbed “Toward Achieving Decent Work for Domestic Workers in ASEAN” was chosen to mark the 10TH anniversary of its Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers.