Govt seeks protection for domestic workers

Government bodies have recommended that workers employed in domestic environments should have the same benefits and protection as other workers.

Director General of the Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Khamkhane Phinsavanh, said the relevant sectors have agreed in principle to protect the rights and benefits of domestic workers such as maids, housekeepers and security guards, to make sure they are not taken advantage of.

Representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (protecting workers' rights) and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (representing employers) met in Vientiane last Thursday and reached an agreement on the issue.

The consensus was in response to questions from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The outcomes are being compiled and will later be submitted to the leading committees of the three bodies for further comment before being presented to the government.

Although the agreement may still be amended by the government once a final version is approved, the document will be finally submitted to the ILO as the official response from the Lao government.

“The ILO is collecting opinions from its member states of more than 180 countries worldwide to formulate an international document to protect the rights and benefits of domestic workers,” Mr Khamkhane told Vientiane Times.

Prior meetings had been held with officials and ILO experts earlier this month in Vientiane . The ILO will include the matter on the agenda of its 2010 annual meeting with the hope of formulating an international convention or guideline document.

Mr Khamkhane was unable to say whether the document would be approved at the 2010 annual meeting as it depended on voting from ILO member states.

Once such an international convention comes into force, it would serve as a reference for ILO member states that ratify the standard.

However, Laos also needs to formulate its own national legal document on the issue in consideration of the international convention, while making sure the national document is appropriate to the country's socio-economic situation.

Laos , like many countries, has not extended formal legal protection over domestic workers, who are often exploited or disadvantaged.

Many of them are paid low wages in relation to their workloads. They generally work longer than standard working hours. They often don't have personal freedom and many are denied basic rights, said Mr Khamkhane.

“Their right to negotiate working conditions is restricted. They don't receive healthcare services or other forms of social welfare,” Mr Khamkhane said.

He said many of these workers are women and children including foreign expatriates who are sometimes forced to work in conditions that virtually amount to slavery.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Vientianetimes