International Domestic Workers’ Day in Latin America: Re-launching the C189 Campaign

On March 30, 1988, in Bogotá, Colombia, the first Domestic Workers Congress took place and founded the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Domestic Workers (CONLACTRAHO). Since then, domestic workers in Latin America have been celebrating the March 30 as the Domestic Workers' Day of Latin America. This year, domestic workers in Latin America, jointly with trade unions and other allies re-launched the C189 campaign to press governments to ratify the Convention as soon as possible to protect rights of domestic workers. The followings are reports from Mexico, Bolivia and Peru.

International Domestic Workers' Day Forum on the Ratification of C189, Mexico

At the Forum, which was supported also by the FES, law makers, Florentina Rosario Moralies, supported speedy ratification of the C189 in the country. The Mayor of Chihuahua, Marco Quezada Adam, President of the Municipal DIF, Lucia Chavira Quezada and the director of the Center for Support and Training for Domestic Workers AC (CACEH), Marcelina Bautista signed an agreement on training and legal advice for domestic workers. Marcelina Bautista applauded the interest of the municipal authority to sign the agreement for the benefit of domestic workers.

Press release and reports on this event in Spanish language (PDF).

Bolivia

In Bolivia, domestic workers organizations rallied outside the National Assembly House to demand for the ratification of C189 and to enforce the Act 2405 to regulate working hours and weekly rest for domestic workers. The Act 2405 was enacted in 2003. However violations are rampant as many domestic workers work up to 14 hours everyday. In Bolivia, there are about 137,000 domestic workers, of them, less than 1% join trade unions and just the same percentage of workers have a written contract.

Read the reports in Spanish language (PDF).

Peru

Leddy Mozombite, General Secretary of SINTTRAHOL said that ratification of the C189 would help some 500,000 domestic workers in the country to exercise their rights such as mínimum wage and rest days. A legislative proposal to ratify the Convention, initiated by Congressman Yonhy Lescano, has already secured support from another 30 congressmen. On March 30, domestic workers organizations, the SINTTRAHOL and SINTRAHOGARP held activities to commemorate the International Domestic Workers' Day in Peru.

Read the reports in Spanish language (PDF).