Protect domestic workers, ratify ‘C189’.

BY PURPLE ROMERO, RAPPLER.com
April 13, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a story you hear every day. May it be in the concrete jungles of Manila, or in an impoverished far-flung area, the Pearl of the Orient has a few left opportunities for the struggling Filipino family to earn just enough for a daily decent meal.

Hence, a mother, a son, any member of the household is likely to opt for venturing to a different land and workplace, in the hopes of earning more. Sometimes they do live the dream, but there are times when they see the dream turn into a nightmare.

Since the story has become so familiar, worker rights’ groups thought that the Philippine government will immediately move to ensure the protection of domestic workers by ratifying a landmark instrument that will globally set the standards for domestic workers’ rights.

But it’s been almost a year since the International Labor Organization Convention 189 (C189) has been adopted, but not one country — including the Philippines — has ratified it yet. C189 has to be ratified by at least 2 countries before it can take effect. The legally-binding agreement mandates countries to put in place regulations that ensure the promotion and protection of  the basicrights of domestic workers.

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