Working Age: stopping under-age employment and better protecting those entitled to work
Taken from the report Making it Work! How to Protect Child Domestic Workers from Exploitation and Abuse.
Taken from the report Making it Work! How to Protect Child Domestic Workers from Exploitation and Abuse.
Awareness-raising in communities to help prevent the recruitment of under age children
This can be achieved through the development of awareness programmes that target parents, teachers and leaders in communities where child domestic workers commonly originate of the real implications of placing girls as domestic workers far away in towns and cities, and to warn them of the false promises of employers, recruiters and traffickers. Girls and boys can be fully informed through schools, faith congregations, youth groups and other community networks.
Where activities cannot easily be undertaken in sending communities because an organisation is city-based, partnerships can be established with local community-based organisations and authorities already working with the communities.
Examples:
In Peru ex-domestic worker girls are taken to strategic rural communities so that they can tell their painful stories and warn parents. This is far more effective than second-hand stories told by project leaders or teachers. They also form ‘child worker prevention committees’ in the communities, involving respected community members and officials, to promote child rights and build awareness against traffickers.
Organisations in areas vulnerable to trafficking in parts of India have similarly enlisted and trained girls and women as anti-trafficking promoters.
In Tanzania, CHODAWU (the trade union for domestic and allied workers) has adopted the approach of community sensitisation to identify children likely to enter domestic work. An important message to put across to parents and other community members is the vulnerability of girl domestics to abuse and sexual exploitation. Community-based child labour committees are the key to implementing this prevention approach. The members of these committees are elected; they screen and select the children who will receive assistance, provide individual support to the children and monitor their progress.
Legislative review and reform to prohibit the employment of under-age workers
National and local laws and regulations can be reviewed and revised with a view to identifying existing gaps, inconsistencies, regulatory overlaps, as well as the mechanisms for legislative application. Individuals from different sectors, especially local community leaders, can be consulted not only to gather different views, but also to heighten awareness, allowing stakeholders to consider their roles in protecting and guaranteeing the rights of girls and adolescents in domestic labour.
It has been found that a tripartite, consultative and multi-disciplinary approach to legislative reform works best. Holding workshops and interviews with girls and adolescents in domestic labour and those who support them, to gather information about their experiences and needs. Seeking sound technical criteria from experts in legal and labour issues as inputs to prepare proposed legislative changes. In addition, seeking contributions from justice officials responsible for protecting children and adolescents, as well as from the young domestic workers themselves.
Examples:
After a thorough review of all the national employment legislation as it applies to domestic work, the Philippines is introducing a pioneering piece of legislation - a Magna Carta for Household Helpers know as the Batas Kasambahay. The bill updates the Philippines’ Labour Code on minimum working standards to attune them to the realities faced by domestic workers not currently covered under its provisions. The bill has gathered support from a number of Congressmen and Senators, as well as government agencies, civil society and human rights organisations.
In India, the use of children under 14 as domestic workers was banned in 2006, when child domestic labour was added to the schedule of hazardous activities under the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act (1986). Punishment ranges from a fine to imprisonment.
Educating employers on the minimum working age
This can be achieved through public information campaigns informing individuals and communities that children below the minimum working age must not be used in domestic work, and that those legally entitled to work must be properly protected against workplace abuses.
Where people are being sensitized to bring cases of under-age child domestic employment or abusive treatment to the attention of the authorities, every effort should be made to undertake the task sensitively and retain the co-operation of employers. It has been found that they will respond best to officials they already know and trust.
Examples:
Weekly radio slots in Haiti raise issues relating to the situation of child domestic workers. In Malawi, a radio soap opera has been used to get the message across to employers about the need to change their behaviour. In Kenya and the Philippines organisations have created awareness about the situation faced by child domestic workers through national and local radio programmes. Child and adult domestic workers are invited to speak on these programmes about the difficulties they face and on what listeners can do to improve their situation.
Improving skills and offering alternatives to young domestic workers
This can be achieved by identifying useful vocational training alternatives for young domestic workers and linking new skills to available jobs or business opportunities. These opportunities need to take account of the heavily gendered nature of domestic work and the limited occupations open to young women.
Training in skills linked to the existing workplace, such as baking, needlework, embroidery, and early childhood care give young domestic workers confidence and equip them with extra options which may make it possible to leave an abusive employer or seek better pay. More recently, training in IT skills is commonly provided to boost employment options for young domestic workers.
Apprenticeship or job counselling schemes offer systems that bridge the gap between education and formal employment, or assist young domestic workers to become self-employed.
Example:
In Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a model of ‘alternative education’ and skills training has been approved by the Yogyakarta manpower department and the national education ministry which is being replicated in five provinces across the country. The model sets up a special school for domestic workers which aims to improve domestic workers social position and gain them union recognition and employment rights. The school offers training over 3-5 months in critical awareness, and in certain occupational skills. Workers attend both from their places of origin, and from their workplace.
