The regional conference “Domestic Workers are Workers: Decent Work for All” was successfully held on August 26-27, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand by forty five participants from eight Asian countries and one from South Africa. As part of the conference’s campaign launching, the participants joined labour activists, NGO supporters and domestic workers in Thailand in a public action to raise the voice of domestic workers in Asia.

On the afternoon of August 26, the demonstrators gathered at Wat Phathumwanaram, located in the commercial centre of Bangkok, and started the march from there to MBK shopping complex. The two-kilometre march lasted for about half an hour. Led by Thai street drama performers from the child domestic workers group Foundation for Child Development, demonstrators shouted slogans and gave short presentations during the march. International participants shouted slogans on domestic workers’ rights in their own languages.

This public action peaked with a 2-hour ceremony in front of MBK shopping complex. Poonsap Suanmuang Tulaphan, Coordinator of Homenet Thailand, gave warm welcome to the demonstrators and the people who stopped to watch the event. This was followed by a pantomime about the life of a domestic worker from the countryside recruited to work in the city.

Showing the support of the Thai government, Mr.Phadungsak Thephasadin Na Ayutthaya, the head of Social Security Office, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare gave a speech on the importance and contribution of domestic workers to the society, and vowed to accelerate drafting legislation for domestic workers’ rights. Professor Malee Ariyavicha, board member of the Committee for Asian Women, spoke on the global and local situation of domestic workers. Professor Gothom Arya, board member of the Foundation for Child Development, expressed the demands of domestic workers.

Towards the end of the ceremonies organisers staged a very interesting interview involving three parties: the International Labour Organization (ILO), an employer of domestic workers - represented by a well-known Thai actress, and a domestic worker. The interview focused on the rights of domestic workers and how to maintain a good work relation. The employer (the Thai actress) explained how she and her family respect domestic workers, saying that her children have to greet the domestic workers after they come back from school. She said domestic workers are part of her family. The Thai domestic worker however said that what makes a good employer is the respect of freedom of association. What domestic workers need is limited working hours and regular days off, so that they can attend activities like this kind. At the same time, Ms. Taneeya Runcharoen, a programme officer of ILO, shared with the audience the international labour standards regarding protections for domestic workers.

Lucia Victor Jayaseelan, CAW executive coordinator, closed the event with a speech on demands of domestic workers to be recognised as workers and urged support and encouragement from governments and the ILO towards this goal.

A symbolic unlocking of domestic workers from their difficult plight was demonstrated, where government and domestic workers’ supporters used a key to unlock the house where domestic workers are kept. Once the key opened the door the domestic workers freed themselves of their unjust working conditions. This symbolically explained that legislation (key) to protect domestic workers is the first step for domestic workers to claim their rights. The key as used by government and civil society in support of domestic workers signified the unified action by all concerned sectors which is needed to realise decent work for domestic workers.