Minister Flanagan announces new guidelines for diplomatic staff employing private domestic employees in Ireland

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, today announced the introduction of guidelines for members of diplomatic missions in Ireland who intend to employ private domestic workers.

As a guiding principle, diplomatic staff of embassies or consulates in Ireland who wish to employ private domestic workers are expected to demonstrate respect for Irish laws and good employment practice. The guidelines clearly set out the expectations regarding payment, employment records, health insurance, and social security.

Minister Flanagan said: “These guidelines will help to prevent exploitation of domestic workers in diplomatic households and to assist victims. While we believe that the majority of diplomatic staff already follow good practice, it is best practice internationally to provide clear employment guidelines and a framework for their implementation.

“These new guidelines have been developed following a consultative and cooperative process involving other departments and State agencies, including the Departments of Justice and Equality and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) and An Garda Síochána. I also welcome the contribution of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland to this process.”

Minister Flanagan said that the adoption of these guidelines is consistent with Ireland’s ratification in July of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, of 2011: “These guidelines demonstrate our continuing commitment to the protection of domestic workers in Ireland. I will closely monitor their implementation.”