Forum on ILO Convention 189 and Convention 190 in the Philippines highlights domestic workers’ rights and efforts to prevent violence and harassment in the world of work.
Manila, Philippines (ILO News) – Domestic workers, many of whom are migrant women, play a vital role in households across the world, providing essential care and support services. Despite their contributions, they remain among the most vulnerable workers, often facing low wages, informal employment, and exposure to violence and harassment. As ageing populations drive increased demand for care services, ensuring that domestic workers enjoy decent work and robust labour protections has become even more urgent.
To address these challenges, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), convened a high-level forum to review the implementation and impact of two landmark instruments: the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190).
The forum featured a keynote address by Manuela Tomei, ILO Assistant Director-General for Governance, Rights, and Dialogue, who played a key role in the adoption of both conventions. In her remarks, ADG Tomei commended the Philippines’ leadership in labour migration governance and domestic worker protection.
She underscored that the adoption of ILO C189 and C190 marks a significant milestone in protecting the rights of domestic workers and addressing violence and harassment in the workplace, calling for sustained policy efforts, strengthened labour inspection mechanisms, and enhanced social dialogue to ensure the effective implementation of these conventions.
Collaborative Dialogue on Migrant and Domestic Workers’ Protections
The event brought together representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Land-based Tripartite Consultative Council (OLTCC), and the ILO. Discussions focused on:
- Strengthening fair recruitment measures to protect migrant domestic workers from abusive practices, including charging fees to workers, deception, and contract substitution.
- Enhancing legal protections against violence and harassment, with attention to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of migrant domestic workers.
- Promoting the formalization of domestic work, ensuring these workers are fully covered by labour and social security laws—and that those laws are effectively enforced.
- Sharing experiences and good practices from other countries on implementing Convention No. 190, especially in relation to migrant and domestic workers.
The Philippines’ leadership in labour governance
As the first country to ratify Convention No. 189, and the first in Southeast Asia to ratify Convention No. 190, the Philippines has set global and regional benchmarks in labour rights protection for domestic workers and migrants. With more than 10.7 million Filipinos living overseas, nearly 5.7 million of them temporary migrants, many working in domestic services, the country plays a crucial role in advancing fair recruitment and safe migration.
The Philippine government, with ILO’s support, has led efforts to implement the Department of Migrant Workers Act, developing Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to strengthen protections against trafficking, exploitation, and abusive recruitment practices. As a member of the ILO Fair Recruitment Advisory Committee, the Philippines continues to champion ethical recruitment and decent work for migrant workers.
With the Philippines set to chair ASEAN in 2026, the country is expected to leverage this leadership role to further advance labour rights protections at the regional level. The forum concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from government, workers’ and employers’ representatives to fully implement Conventions 189 and 190, and to continue collaborating with the ILO to strengthen legal frameworks, improve enforcement, and foster inclusive dialogue for the protection of domestic and migrant workers.
