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The ITUC launched the‘12 by 12’ campaign in December 2011, following the historical adoption of C189 at the International Labor Conference (ILC) on 16 June 2011. The campaign goal is 12 ratifications of C189 in 2012 and the strengthening of domestic workers’ unions.

Uruguay's representatives yesterday approved the International Labour Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers. The ratification will have a significant impact on domestic workers rights in Uruguay and worldwide: C189 comes into force once two countries have ratified it. In other words, we are getting very close to safeguarding C189 as an international instrument.

Countries that ratify C189 have to adopt laws that recognise the right of domestic workers to collectively defend their interests through trade unions. In addition, Convention C189 protects the right of domestic workers to a minimum wage in countries where such a wage exists; the Convention guarantees them a monthly payment and access to social security including in the case of maternity; and it gives them one day off per week and regulates their working hours and leave days. C189 recognises domestic work as any other work and ensures that domestic workers are treated as any other worker under labour legislation.

The ‘12 by 12’ campaign is now operational in 73 countries around the world. They are undertaking actions to demand the ratification of C189 and changes in national legislation: actions range from marches in the streets or public events, etc., to the inclusion of C189 in tripartite meetings (Nordic countries, Philippines, South Africa, Brazil).

1) The ‘12 by 12’ Campaign is an initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in partnership with the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) , Public Service International (PSI), The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), Human Rights Watch, Anti-Slavery International, Solidar, Migrant Forum Asia (MFA), World Solidarity and Caritas.

2) 14 million domestic workers are in Latin America, with 120,000 in Uruguay.

Source:http://www.ituc-csi.org/12-by-12-campaign-uruguay-first.html

By Bruce Liao 廖元豪 /  Taipei Times, Wed, Mar 28, 2012

Last week, Premier Sean Chen said separating foreign workers’ wages from the minimum wage requirement was not possible according to the current Taiwanese legal system and international conventions, although it might be possible by creating “virtual offshore” areas.

Chen’s idea might sound outlandish, but perhaps it will wake people up to the fact that the legal structure pertaining to immigrants and foreign migrant workers has long been based on dubious logic. There are currently more than 400,000 immigrant spouses and more than 400,000 blue-collar foreign workers living in Taiwan. They are all physically located in Taiwan, yet they are all treated as if they are “offshore.”

The International Domestic Workers Network (idwn) just released a documentary film that illustrates how women from around the world organized within the International Labour Organization to establish the first global standards on Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention. “C189: Conventional Wisdom” captures in-depth footage from the 2010 and 2011 International Labour Conferences to illustrate the unique strategies domestic worker organizations utilized to assure the adoption of Convention 189. Highlights of the film include behind-the-scenes moments from within the International Labour Conference meetings in Geneva, reflections from leaders of the IDWN and the ILO, and interviews with advocates from a series of allied organizations. http://idwn.info

News Source: Central News Agency (By Wen Kui-hsiang, Ho Meng-kui and S.C. Chang)

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) The Legislature amended the Employment Services Act Thursday so that foreign workers, who currently are allowed to stay a maximum of nine years, will be able to work in Taiwan for as many as 12 years. Under the amendment, foreign workers, domestic helpers, caregivers and fishing boat workers will all have their service limit extended from nine to 12 years. The revision was a response, in part, to Red Cross Society President C.V. Chen's appeal that his disabled son's foreign caregiver be given more time to continue his service as the caregiver's contract was to expire soon. The amendment was approved after the ruling Kuomintang's (KMT's) legislative caucus made the proposal, which prompted opposition Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Huang Sue-ying to criticize the KMT's President Ma Ying-jeou for allowing an amendment that would benefit his supporters in the business world. Moreover, Huang said extending the service limit for foreign blue-collar workers will impact the interests of local workers. KMT Legislator Chiang Yi-hsiung said the government should not extend the time for foreign industrial workers and domestic helpers whose jobs could be taken over by local workers.