Extending social protection and professionalization of domestic workers in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda World Bank Civil Society Forum April 20th 2017 Valérie Schmitt Deputy Director Social Protection Department, ILO schmittv@ilo.org
Outline Global trends and challenges and obstacles faced by domestic workers The international development context Looking on the bright side: some solutions A new partnership: ILO - IDAY extending social protection to domestic workers in the context of ILO Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All
Global trends: Exclusion of Domestic workers Mandatory coverage Voluntary coverage Ongoing measures Without enough information Without coverage Global statutory social security coverage of domestic workers Source: ILO Social Protection Department, Data base on Social Protection for Domestic Workers.
Coverage gaps in social security for domestic workers, by region Percentage of countries with social security coverage for domestic workers, by region Source: ILO Social Protection Department, Data base on Social Protection for Domestic Workers.
What are the main challenges faced by domestic workers? Social and cultural factors: discrimination, low social value Work is done in private households One or multiple employers Residing in the household Poor working conditions Low or even non-existent wages Long working hours Little, if any, leave Violence, in various forms Job insecurity Low formalization Lack of social protection High irregularity of income Payment in kind is very common Without contract of employment High variability in the number of working hours
Obstacles to extending social protection to domestic workers Legal exclusion Voluntary nature of coverage Restrictive definition of domestic work in legislation Restrictions in contingencies covered Exclusion linked to specific characteristics (income, worktime, etc.) Financing schemes not adapted to the characteristics of the group Unsuited administrative mechanisms Lack of incentives Complexity of administrative procedures Lack of mechanisms for multi-employer and part-time work Lack of awareness and organization and representation Legal exclusion (partial or total) for migrant DW
SOCIAL SECURITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT FOR ALL Domestic Workers Convention (No. 189) Recommendation No. 201 (concerning domestic workers) International Human Rights Instruments Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)
Social Protection is a priority of the SDGs and for the ILO 5 SDG targets Target 1.3 - Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable Target 3.8 - Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services ( ) Target 5.4 - Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies ( ) Target 8.5 - By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, (..) Target 10.4 - Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality
Fighting the barriers to extending social protection to domestic workers Adopting mandatory coverage Adapting financing mechanisms to the contributory capacity Strengthening institutional capacity for the contributory control, compulsion, inspection Increasing the bargaining power of domestic workers Simplifying the registration process Simplifying payment of contributions process
Intensifying the use of information technologies Making the scheme more attractive: contingencies included and adequacy Improving perception of quality of benefits and services Increasing the level of organization and participation in unions of DWs Increasing the level of social awareness on the importance of social security Abolishing discriminatory treatment of migrant DW
ILO Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All Nationally defined SPFs in 21 countries Global campaign on SPFs (global reach) 11
ILO and IDAY teaming up to extend social protection to domestic workers in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda Strengthen national legal frameworks Raise awareness 4 CORE OBJECTIVES Improve and adapt institutional capacities Professionalization