Commission urges Member States to ratify ILO Convention No 189 on domestic work

On the 21st of March 2013, the European Commission issued a proposal for a Council Decision authorizing Member States to ratify the ILO Convention on decent work for domestic workers.

The ILO Convention No 189 adopted in June 2011 by the ILO General Assembly ensures fair and decent conditions for domestic workers by protecting their fundamental labour related rights, preventing abuse and violence and establishing safeguards for young domestic workers. The Convention deals with EU law minimum requirements related to social policy (health and safety at work, protection of young people at work, maternity protection, working time, etc.), antidiscrimination, freedom of movement of workers and asylum and immigration.

The proposal for a Council Decision allows Member States to ratify those parts of the Convention No 189 falling under the competence conferred upon the Union by the Treaties.

At present, Italy is the only EU Member States who ratified the Convention. In Portugal, the ratification is tabled for discussion at the Parliament and in Germany the Ministry of Labour just started the official ratification process.