To remind you: The answers to the ILO’s questionnaire have to be sent in by the 30st of August.
See for more information: http://en.domesticworkerrights.org/?q=node/56

The ILO is ‘tripartite’ which means that employers, governments and workers are represented in its structure. The questionnaire connected to this draft ‘Law and Practice Report’, will be answered by the trade unions, government, and employers.

In the whole process the national activities are basic.
In the preparation process.
But especially later, when the convention needs to be ratified.
And national legislation will be improved.
Which only functions when critical workers and citizens monitor the developments

At the national level activities are primarily worked out by the domestic workers organisations – trade unions, self organised groups and NGOs, and the trade unions (the national centres and the affiliated unions). However, interaction with each other is essential.

What you can do
Ideas for action which domestic/household workers’ organisations can take in your own country:
• Get in touch with us for more information on the global campaign for an ILO Convention in 2011 – and on how your own activities can add strength to it.
• Plan your activities in line with the steps in the ILO process.
• Build an alliance of the domestic/household workers’ organisations, trade unions and supporters – of all sorts – in your country, to speak with one voice.
• Develop stronger links with the trade union movement in your country, asking them for:
>Contact with the trade union leaders who go in your country’s delegation to the ILO so that you can become part of their advisory team for the Convention and represent domestic/household workers in Geneva;
>Support with access to government officials, members of parliament, and employers’ bodies where relevant, to persuade them to support the Convention; unions could hold joint information seminars with domestic workers organisations on:
*Access to organising facilities, such as room space and computers;
*Coverage in the trade union media for union members;
*Education among union members about how to employ domestic/household workers with respect and fairness; circulation of model employment contracts.
• Find out if there is an ILO office in your country, especially if it has a ‘Decent Work’ programme; if so, make sure they are including the new Convention for domestic/household workers in their programme.
• Hold public awareness-raising events and do media work.
• Consider sending representatives to our network’s activities at the International Labour Conferences in Geneva in 2010 and 2011.
• Lobby after the Convention is adopted in 2011 to make sure it is ratified and implemented by your government.

Please let us know about the actions you take, especially your successes:
_ Arguments raised against you, and how you overcome them.
_ What you have done to build the strength of your own organisations, and your alliance with others.
_ The position of your government on the proposed Convention.

Source: IUF