Domestic workers in Mombasa County have again urged the government to accept ILO Conventions 189 and 190, saying their cases of abuse are many and legal protection is very weak in the sector.
The request was made during a public participation forum at KICODEP Social Hall Bombolulu where domestic workers recounted stories of being abused and exploited in private households.
The attendees listed problem areas such as non, payment of overtime, verbal or no contracts, harassment, and other forms of abuses. They said these problems continue because there is no labour law directly applicable to domestic workers.
Convention 189 is about decent working conditions for domestic workers such as payment of fair wages, clear contracts, reasonable working hours, social security benefits, etc. , whereas Convention 190 is about violence and harassment in the world of work.
According to the workers, the ratification of the two conventions would result in the establishment of a stronger legal system for their protection.The forum speakers said domestic workers are still largely invisible in the current labour systems because they work inside people’s homes which makes it very hard for them to report abuse or seek justice.
There were many calls to the government to recognise domestic work as formal employment and to ensure that labour standards are enforced.
