The ILO Domestic Workers Convention

In 2013, the European Commission called for member states to ratify the ILO Domestic Workers Convention. The current British government was one of only two EU governments to abstain in the vote on the Convention in 2011 and refuses to ratify it, arguing that domestic workers are sufficiently protected by existing laws. Member states that ratify the Convention must put in place laws to make sure migrant domestic workers:

• receive equal treatment with other workers as regards compensation and benefits, for example in the case of maternity;

• are informed of the terms and details of their employment;

• are protected against discrimination;

• are offered decent living conditions; and

• have easy access to complaint mechanisms.