Decent Work for Domestic Workers in Asia and the Pacific

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Decent Work for Domestic Workers in Asia and the Pacific International International Domestic Workers Labour Network Organisation Decent work for domestic workers in Asia and the Pacific Manual for Trainers Decent work for domestic workers in Asia and the Pacific Manual for trainers Decent work for domestic workers in Asia and the Pacific – Manual for trainers I 1 I Copyright © International Labour Organization 2012 First published 2012 Publications of the International Labour Office enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Con- vention. Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to ILO Publications (Rights and Permissions), International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: pubdroit@ilo. org. The International Labour Office welcomes such applications. Libraries, institutions and other users registered with reproduction rights organizations may make copies in ac- cordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. Visit www.ifrro.org to find the reproduction rights organization in your country. Ramos-Carbone, Elsa Decent work for domestic workers in Asia and the Pacific : manual for trainers / Elsa Ramos-Carbone; ILO DWT for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific ; ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. - Bangkok: ILO, 2012 124 p. ISBN: 9789221262442; 9789221262459 (web pdf); 9789221262466 (CD ROM) ILO DWT for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific; ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific domestic worker / domestic work / decent work / working conditions / workers rights / living conditions / Asia / Pacific 13.01.6 ILO Cataloguing in Publication Data The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Interna- tional Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in them. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications and electronic products can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Cata- logues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from the above address, or by email: pubvente@ ilo.org Visit our web site: www.ilo.org/publns Artwork and pictures: Courtesy of S. Mitra, G. Nerincx, S. P. Ouseph, E. Ramos-Carbone, J. Roininen, K. Ryan and M. Wolterink, CONLACTRAHO, EUP Images, IDWN, ILO and ITUC. Design and layout : m+m studios, Johannesburg Printed in Hong Kong, China I 2 I IDWN – ILO 2012 Contents Foreword ...........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................................................7 Module 1 domestic work: Work like no other, work like any other ..........................................................9 guIde Activities Activity 1.1 What is domestic work?......................................................................................................................................... 12 Activity 1.2 Domestic workers: The national picture ......................................................................................................... 12 Activity 1.3 Interviewing domestic workers .......................................................................................................................... 14 Activity 1.4 Examining our attitudes ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Activity 1.5 The value of domestic work ................................................................................................................................. 18 Activity 1.6 Promoting recognition and appreciation of the value of domestic work .......................................... 19 Tools Tool 1.1 Sketching what we know about domestic workers: The national picture ......................................... 21 Tool 1.2 Sample survey questionnaire for domestic workers .................................................................................. 22 Handouts Handout 1.1 Domestic work: Work like any other, work like no other .......................................................................... 24 Handout 1.2 Domestic workers: A brief overview ................................................................................................................ 27 Handout 1.3 Domestic workers tell their stories .................................................................................................................... 32 Handout 1.4 The value of domestic work ................................................................................................................................. 35 Handout 1.5 Case studies: Changing mentalities and recognizing the value of domestic work ......................... 37 Module 2 decent work for domestic workers: What is it and how do we get there? ......................... 39 guIde Activities Activity 2.1 A day in the life of a domestic worker .............................................................................................................. 43 Activity 2.2 Decent work for domestic workers: The gaps .............................................................................................. 44 Activity 2.3 Stopping abuse and exploitation of domestic workers ............................................................................ 45 Activity 2.4 What do our laws say? Domestic work in national legislation ................................................................ 46 Activity 2.5 Where do we go from here? Priorities for improving domestic workers’ rights in practice ........ 47 Activity 2.6 Where do we go from here? Priorities for improving domestic workers’ rights in law.................. 48 Activity 2.7 Campaigning for ratification of Convention No. 189 .................................................................................. 49 Tools Tool 2.1 Domestic workers’ rights — Comparing our laws and practice to Convention No. 189................ 50 Handouts Handout 2.1 What is decent work? What does it mean for domestic workers?.......................................................... 53 Handout 2.2 Respect and dignity ................................................................................................................................................ 57 Handout 2.3 Decent working and living conditions ............................................................................................................. 59 Decent work for domestic workers in Asia and the Pacific – Manual for trainers I 3 I Handout 2.4 Protection for particular groups of domestic workers ............................................................................... 67 Handout 2.5 Case studies: Practical and legal measures to promote decent work for domestic workers ....... 70 Handout 2.6 Ratification and implementation of Convention No. 189 ......................................................................... 72 Module 3 decent work for domestic workers: Action Now! ....................................................................77 guIde Activities Activity 3.1 Facing the challenges ............................................................................................................................................ 80 Activity 3.2 Organizing – Identifying obstacles ................................................................................................................. 81 Activity 3.3 Organizing – Overcoming the obstacles ......................................................................................................... 82 Activity 3.4 Developing an organizing strategy .................................................................................................................. 83 Activity 3.5 Networking and building alliances ................................................................................................................... 84 Activity 3.6 Lobbying your allies (for domestic workers’ organizations) ..................................................................... 85 Activity 3.7 Drawing up an action plan ................................................................................................................................... 87 Activity 3.8 Making a personal commitment ........................................................................................................................ 89 Tools Tool 3.1 Checklist for organizing domestic workers ...................................................................................................
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