Baldoz describes PH ratification of ILO Convention 189 "historic"


Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday welcomed the concurrence by the Senate of the Philippines to the ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, describing it as " historic"  for it  "puts the Philippines on the forefront of global efforts to promote decent and productive work for household service workers."

ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and its accompanying Recommendations was ratified by President Benigno S. Aquino III on 18 May and was sent to the Senate on 23 May 2012 for its concurrence.

"The Convention requires the ratification of at least two Member States before its entry into force, which means Uruguay's ratification of Convention 189 last June turns the spotlight on the Philippines as the second ratifying ILO Member State. So, this puts the Philippines in a unique position with regards the entry into force of ILO Convention 189," said Baldoz after the Senate voted for its concurrence.

Baldoz, who was at the Senate to witness the voting for concurrence, also said the full ratification by the Philippines of the Convention raises the bar of protection for all Filipino household service workers, domestic and overseas.

"Together with our tripartite partners, we rejoice at the concurrence by the Senate to the Philippine ratification of ILO Convention 189," said Baldoz.

"This is a rich reward and a happy culmination of our national collective effort to have this Convention approved at the ILO and then ratified for it to take effect. And we thank all our Senators for giving our household service workers the dignity they deserve," she added.

Baldoz had earlier expressed thanks to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Loren Legarda, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment and Human Resources Development, and all the other Senators for their unwavering support to ILO Convention 189.

ILO Convention 189 sets new international standards for the protection of household helpers. The new ILO instrument, which defines domestic work as work performed in or for a household or households, covers all domestic workers and provides special measures to protect those workers who, because of their young age or nationality or live-in status, may be exposed to additional risks relative to their peers, among others.

According to ILO Convention 189, household workers should be given “reasonable working hours, weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours, clear information on terms and conditions of employment, as well as respect for fundamental principles, including freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining.”

Baldoz said that with the Senate's concurrence to the Convention's ratification, the country's household service workers estimated at close to 1.93 million to 2.5 million can look forward to better salaries, to safe and healthy working conditions, and to other benefits.

"They will now be regarded as members of the formal labor sector, with general protection from abuse and exploitation and their contributions to our socio-economic development recognized," said Baldoz
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