Minister Bruton announces ratification of ILO Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers

National Employment Rights Authority launches information booklet for domestic work in Ireland

9th July 2014

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton, TD, today announced the Government’s decision to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers (No. 189), 2011.

Minister Bruton secured Government approval to ratify the Convention at its meeting yesterday. This decision puts Ireland among the small group of ILO member countries who have ratified this Convention. To date, only 14 ILO member countries out of 185 have ratified the Domestic Workers Convention and Ireland will be only the third EU country to ratify.

Minister Bruton said: “The decision to ratify the ILO Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers is an important milestone and shows a strong commitment on the part of Ireland to the protection of the rights of domestic workers”.

“Ireland already has a strong track record in the area of protecting people involved in domestic work, as shown by the fact that we can ratify this Convention without having to amend our existing suite of employment rights legislation. NERA has undertaken a programme of inspections involving domestic workers, and continues to respond to any complaints received from domestic workers. In addition, the Labour Relations Commission, in conjunction with the social partners, produced a Code of Practice for Protecting Persons Employed in Other People’s Homes which recognises the unique circumstances that occur in the domestic work employment relationship”.

The Minister said that he was delighted to welcome members of the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland’s Domestic Workers Action Group to the Department today to mark the occasion of Ireland’s ratification of the Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers by the launch of a NERA booklet on the employment rights of domestic workers in Ireland.

The Minister concluded by thanking officials from his Department, relevant offices and agencies as well as all the various other stakeholders – including ICTU, IBEC and the MRCI – involved in this process for their work in reaching this conclusion.
The instrument of ratification will be presented shortly to the Director-General of the ILO in Geneva, Mr Guy Ryder.