Breaking Newsstream: She polishes locks that trap her

Monday, June 16, 2014

She polishes locks that trap her

Sarah’s story is all too common amongst the world’s 64.5 million domestic workers², perhaps the world’s most vulnerable employees. Domestic workers in slavery are almost certainly in your country and could be on your street.

Why do these workers -- taken in to care for children, prepare meals, and make homes -- continue to be treated so cruelly?

Unbelievably, in most countries around the world, domestic workers cannot count on many of the basic legal protections and benefits afforded to other workers. Their abusers are safe behind closed doors while domestic workers have nowhere to turn for help.

Ending domestic slavery won’t be easy, but we know what the first step is. It’s time for every country to adopt the new, game-changing international law that puts domestic workers on a level playing field with other workers.

For this new law (called Convention 189)³ to have an impact on the everyday suffering of domestic workers, every country must adopt it. And the only way this will happen is with your support.

Today, on International Domestic Workers Day, call on your government to adopt tough new rules to end domestic slavery.

Around the world, there are at least 64.5 million domestic workers and over 15% are children.⁴ Domestic work is a growing industry, worth US$8 billion in illegal profits every year.⁵ If all domestic workers worked in one country, this country would be the tenth largest employer worldwide.

Domestic work is an important source of employment, but the people behind these numbers are too often invisible behind the doors of private households and unprotected by national legislation. This invisibility allows for the worst types of abuse -- often amounting to modern slavery.

Tougher rules to protect domestic workers are long overdue. By sending a message to your government today you can help start a domino effect that will make all countries feel compelled to take action. 15 countries have already taken this step⁶ -- will yours be next?

Call on your government to take a stand against domestic slavery right now. www.walkfree.org/c189

Domestic workers deserve the same dignity and rights hard-won by other workers -- by taking action you’re helping to mark the beginning of the end of domestic slavery. Once you have taken action, please urge your friends and family to do the same.

In solidarity,

Debra, Amy, Sarah, Mika and the Walk Free Team

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