Domestic workers

The Migrant Rights Centre, as part of its current campaign on domestic workers, wants the Government to ratify the ILO convention on domestic workers.

While the full rigour of the law should be brought to bear on anyone who mistreats a domestic worker, the Government should not sign that convention because we have a full regime of protection for workers, including domestic workers. In one area only are they exempt. The Employment Equality Act forbids discrimination when hiring an employee, but where it is someone who will work in your own home you are entitled to absolute discretion. This is as it should be. Article 3 (d) of the Convention would, if I read it correctly, remove that discretion.

Áine Ní Chonaill