Europe OSCE deepens debate on domestic servitude

Project : Regional Office 18 Jun 2010

Vienna, June 17th 2010: Under the chairmanship of the OSCE special representative and coordinator against trafficking in human beings, the OSCE hosted an international conference titled: “Unprotected work, invisible exploitation: trafficking for the purpose of domestic servitude”.

More than 50 high level representatives of OSCE member states and observers gathered to discuss on issues related to domestic servitude and the protection of domestic workers.

It is estimated that 150 millions people are involved in domestic work in the world, which represents the most widespread job for girls under 16.

Ways to combat this specific form of exploitation are not sufficiently explored as the invisibility of the domestic servitude hinders an accurate understanding of the phenomenon.

The lack of regulation of the profession, coupled with important migration fluxes of domestic workers makes them highly vulnerable to exploitation and amount in a certain number of cases to trafficking for domestic purposes.

One of the conference aims was also to raise the awareness of the diplomatic community on the issue as a significant number of alleged cases of trafficking in human beings for domestic purpose involved diplomats.

Ms Maria Grazia Gianmarinaro called for a better international cooperation, better law enforcement and more competence for labour inspectors to investigate the whole chain of domestic servitude.

The ILO is currently working on a new international instrument to protect domestic workers to ensure decent working conditions. The instrument is still in the preparatory phase and the preliminary report can be accessed here. [PC]