Each year, 16 June marks International Domestic Workers Day. It was established in recognition of the challenges that domestic workers face, and in order to raise awareness on the international legal conventions ratified by states around the world in order to protect them. This year in Bangkok and Chang Mai, more than 100 domestic workers from Thailand and surrounding countries such as Myanmar, united together with civil society organizations to mark the celebration.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) there are around 53 million domestic workers worldwide, 83 per cent of whom are women. Without clear terms of reference, unregulated payment scales and unregistered status, they are among the most vulnerable groups in the world, susceptible to  forced labour exploitation, abuse and human trafficking.

Thailand has an estimated 300,000 domestic workers who are servicing households by working in housekeeping, child care, personal care, cleaning and other tasks. Because the Ministry of Labour considers domestic work as an informal sector, workers largely fall outside the country’s social protection scheme and have little access to labour protection.

This year, domestic workers from Thailand and abroad came together in a gesture of kindness to clean state-run Rajvithi Home for Girls from disadvantaged families – a commendable act, considering that domestic workers typically perform 14 to 16 hour shifts, six days a week. Representatives of local media, the Chamber of Commerce, Ministries of Labour, Social Welfare and Protection, IOM X and the International Labor Organization (ILO) joined a public conference – including panel discussion to highlight stories of migrant domestic workers.

  Working with and for vulnerable migrants is one of the long-standing traditions of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In Bangkok, the IFRC Senior Migration Officer, Elena Nyanenkova,  emphasised the importance of addressing  the needs and vulnerabilities of migrants based on their need; in accordance with the principles of impartiality and neutrality. Her position contributed to the collective agreement amongst stakeholders at the event, to continue advocating  for better protection of migrants and promoting their inclusion in mainstream society.

For further information on IFRC’s work in the area of migration, please contact the IFRC Senior Migration Officer in Bangkok, Elena Nyanenkova  Elena.Nyanenkova@ifrc.org and visit http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/migration/

IFRC-supported Rights of Migrants in Action initiative is implemented in cooperation with four civil society organisations in Thailand.  It aims to empower migrant workers through capacitating and reactivating their networks, running awareness raising and advocacy events.