NZ vote at ILO fails domestic workers

New Zealand cannot avoid the issue of proper labour standards for paid domestic work forever, says EEO Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor.

Her comment is in response to New Zealand’s vote against a proposal to set work standards for domestic workers at the International Labour Organisation’s annual conference in Geneva this week.

“It is mystifying that New Zealand with its proud record in supporting decent work would vote against the establishment of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) standard for domestic workers. Thank goodness enough other countries meeting in Geneva such as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom voted in favour which paves the way for a possible international instrument next year in June, 2011,” she said.

“Domestic workers are real workers, the overwhelming majority of them are women and they are among the most precarious, low-paid, insecure workers who are often in unprotected forms of employment. Why wouldn’t all New Zealanders want to ensure this increasingly important group of workers had access to decent work conditions and increased protection both here and overseas?”

The exact number of domestic workers in New Zealand is unknown but research estimates there are at least 20,000 home-based care workers alone.

While domestic workers in New Zealand are covered by basic employment provisions they have traditionally had limited coverage in employment and discrimination law because they work in private homes and not in offices, factories or workplaces.

For example, they are excluded from the anti-discrimination provisions of the Human Rights Act 1993, with domestic workers being an exception relating to discrimination in employment. The “invisible” nature of domestic workers means they have also had limited bargaining power.

New Zealand is currently competing in a global market for migrant domestic workers with a growing demand fuelled in part by the need for home-based elder care and women’s increased formal labour market participation which takes them outside the home.

Dr McGregor hopes New Zealand will revisit its position and support ILO standard-setting on domestic work and recognise not only the value of domestic workers but their special employment relationship.

ENDS

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