Visayan Forum, a Philippine-based NGO against modern slavery, celebrated the recent registration of the Philippine ratification of International Labor Organization Convention 189, optimistic that this will make decent work for domestic workers a reality, a press release from the group said.

With the Convention set to enter into force a year after the Philippines’ ratification, Ma. Cecilia Flores Oebanda, its executive director praised the leadership of the Philippines in the advocacy for stronger protection of Filipino domestic workers here and abroad, the press release said.

“This is a historic moment for millions of domestic workers in the Philippines and all over the world who have been waiting to get the recognition and the protection that they deserve,” Oebanda said.

Under the Convention, ILO member-states are mandated to extend minimum wage, social protection, and other labor rights to domestic workers.

Member states are also directed to take measures to ensure that all domestic workers are informed of the terms and conditions of their employment, preferably through written contracts.

They are also mandated to determine the conditions governing the operation of private employment agencies recruiting or placing domestic workers.

Member states must also take measures to ensure that domestic workers are entitled to keep in their possession their travel and identity documents, the press release said.

Oebanda and Senator Loren Legarda also noted that the House of Representatives approved recently H.B. 6144, the Kasambahay bill, guaranteeing standards of protection and standard employment benefits to domestic workers in the Philippines.

The Senate approved its version of the bill, which was co-authored by Legarda in December 2010, the press release added.*

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