TUC calls for speedy ratification of Domestic Workers Convention

The Trade Union Congress has called on government to prioritize the ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention[/caption] The Trade Union Congress has called on government to prioritize the ratification of the  Domestic Workers Convention which will properly address issues of domestic workers. The Congress is worried the convention has been on the table for a long time without attention. “We feel that government has spoken about it, it's been highlighted at the ILO and it's far too long, we feel that domestic workers convention must be ratified, their regulations, we must speed up the process”, TUC administrator said at an event in Accra to commemorate this year's International Domestic Workers Day. The International Convention 189 geared towards the promotion of the rights of domestic workers seeks to ensure that domestic workers are provided better conditions of service. The Attorney General's department has  given an approval for the document to be tabled before parliament for ratification but the Trade Union Congress is worried at the slow pace of the process. Background The 2015 labour force survey indicates that more than nine million people are employed in Ghana. Out of the figure, 42, 370 representing 31.43 % comprise domestic workers. However, these workers, apart from the Labour Act 651 are not protected by any legislation, exposing them to abuses and absence of social protection policies. Since 2011, the Trades Union Congress has pushed government to ratify the Convention 189 to protect rights of domestic workers. At the just ended International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah hinted the convention will be ratified. Currently, the Attorney General (AG) department has approved its passage and will soon be laid before parliament. The convention will seek to impose sanctions on employers who fail to pay social security for the workers. It will also compel employers to pay domestic workers twice their daily wage on public holidays. While pushing for the speedy ratification of the Convention, the Union is also calling for a broader consultation before it is ratified. By Daniel Opoku|3news.com|Ghana