On 16 June 2011, in Geneva, the International Labour Conference adopts the Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers (C189) — the 189th ILO instrument bringing labour standards to tens of millions of domestic workers.

Vote: 396 in favour, 16 against, 63 abstentions. The text guarantees daily and weekly rest (at least 24 hours), minimum wage, freedom to choose where to live, protection against violence and clear employment conditions, including before migration.

Entry into force: 5 September 2013 after two ratifications. Uruguay was the first state to ratify (2012). By 2021 about 35 states were parties.

The Convention addresses the vulnerability of domestic workers, often excluded from national labour law, especially migrants.

For international labour law, 16 June 2011 marks the extension of ILO standards to domestic work.

The official text is published by the International Labour Organization.

Convention C189 of 16 June 2011 remains the ILO standard for decent work for domestic workers.

Image: ILO Geneva; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Convention on Domestic Workers. Treaty text: C189 — Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (ILO).