Promoting Visibility for the Domestic Workers and Enhancing Cooperation among Stakeholders: A Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on ILO Convention 189 and Recommendation 201

A consultation discussion program involving various stakeholders organized by Migrants Forum in Asia (MFA) partners in Bangladesh (WARBE DF, RMMRU, ASK & ACD) and the Solidarity Centre was held at the BRAC Center Inn, Dhaka, Bangladesh on November 4-5, 2012. The main objective of the program was to advance the campaign for the ratification of the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and promote recognition of the human rights and labor rights of domestic workers in Bangladesh through cooperation among stakeholders. Well-recognized personalities from various institutions attended the two-day consultation program and opined and recommended numerous options to further the objective.

The inaugural session was chaired by Dr. Wajedul Islam, Bangladesh Trade Union Centre and welcome remarks were made by Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation and Mr. Allonzo Suson, Solidarity Center and Mr. Jeffrey Scarry from USAID, Bangladesh was present as the Guest of Honor. Followed by the exercise, the closing session of the two-day multi-stakeholder conference was held. The session was chaired by Dr, C. R. Abrar- Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit. A number of renowned personalities attended the session. Mr. Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed, BILS/ Domestic Workers Rights Network summarized the previous  session of the consultation where Wazedul Islam Khan, Trade Union Organization, Ms. Nisha, International Labor Organization, Ms. Shaheen Anam, Manusher Jonno Foundation were present as the special guest and Mr. Md. Israfil Alam, MP-Chairman of Standing Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Labor and Employment Bangladesh Parliament was present as a chief guest of the program.

A number of the suggestions that came out of the group discussions are listed below:

  • Must ensure discrimination free environment for both male and female workers;
  • Include clauses or articles that will ensure rights and opportunities of migrant domestic workers;
  • Education should be made mandatory as articulated in the ILO convention;
  • Government should initiate awareness raising programs;
  • Appointing child as a domestic worker should be a punishable offense. However, keeping the socioeconomic context of Bangladesh, if appointed, child domestic workers(below 14 years of age) should enjoy access to education and proper recreation to support his/her mental and physical growth;
  • Domestic workers’ age of retirement should not exceed 60 years;
  • Ensure security insurance, social security, provident fund and economic security for every domestic workers;
  • Along with labor and employment ministry, foreign ministry, expatriate, education, women and child ministry and social welfare ministry should be designated with proper authority as implementation ministry;
  • Accumulation of ILO Convention 87 and Convention 98 and regulations for implementation of these conventions.