News and articles on domestic work
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Feature story
Questions and Answers on the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers
21 June 2011
The landmark treaty setting standards for the treatment of domestic workers that was adopted at the International Labour Conference in Geneva has been widely hailed as a milestone. The Convention and accompanying Recommendation on decent work for domestic workers aim at protecting and improving the working and living conditions of domestic workers worldwide - estimated to number anywhere between 53 million and 100 million. ILO Online spoke to Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO’s Conditions of Work and Employment Programme.
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Audio
Celebrating the Adoption of an International Labour Standard for Domestic Workers
17 June 2011
At the entrance of the Assembly Hall at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, domestic workers and trade unionists enthusiastically sang and clapped their hands after the adoption of the Domestic Worker Convention ad Recommendation at the 100th International Labour Conference on June 16. The ILO's Director-General, Juan Somavia, called it a historic moment for domestic workers worldwide.
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Audio
Voice of America Reports on New International Labour Convention for Domestic Workers
16 June 2011
Voice of America journalist, Lisa Schlein, reports from the International Labour Conference of the ILO about the adoption of a groundbreaking international labour standard for domestic workers.
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Video
Conference Delegates Adopt International Labour Standard for Domestic Workers
16 June 2011
The government, worker and employer delegates at the 100th annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Thursday, 16 June adopted a historic set of international standards aimed at improving the working conditions of tens of millions of domestic workers worldwide. Conference delegates adopted the Convention on Domestic Workers (2011) by a vote of 396 to 16, with 63 abstentions and the accompanying Recommendation by a vote of 434 to 8, with 42 abstentions.
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Press release
100th ILO annual Conference decides to bring an estimated 53 to 100 million domestic workers worldwide under the realm of labour standards
16 June 2011
The government, worker and employer delegates at the 100th annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Thursday, 16 June adopted a historic set of international standards aimed at improving the working conditions of tens of millions of domestic workers worldwide.
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Video News Release
Domestic Workers Bill of Rights
16 June 2011
According to the ILO, many countries still don’t recognize domestic work as “work”, denying millions of people labour and social protection under the law. But that’s changing in the United States, thanks to a dedicated group of women.
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Press release
Swiss President says “There is a renewed sense of urgency for social justice” in speech to ILO annual conference
15 June 2011
Social justice and the role of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in international governance weres at the centre of the speech given on Wednesday by Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation at the 100th International Labour Conference (ILC).