With the aim of promoting ethical recruitment, vindicating labour rights and the need for decent work for all domestic workers, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with the Sindicato gremial de trabajadoras y trabajadores del servicio doméstico y similares (SINGRETRADS) and the Confederación Convergencia Sindical, organized on March 27, 2021, the conference and service fair "And who cares for the caregiver? Domestic workers and their struggle for the recognition of their rights."

More than 100 participants, mostly women of various nationalities, were registered in this activity that took place within the framework of the International Domestic Workers’ Day, commemorated every March 30th, with the backing of the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS).

IRIS is a voluntary certification system with multiple key actors aimed at international recruiters and is based on international human rights instruments, conventions, and guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and on the best practices of the recruitment industry.

IOM designed this system in conjunction with partners from the government, private and civil society sectors. It helps protect and empower migrant workers by eliminating exploitation in the recruitment process and helping recruitment agencies gain a competitive advantage in the market, establishing themselves as transparent, fair, and accountable entities.

According to Ileen Lezcano, IOM's Operations Assistant in Panama, labour exploitation that occurs in the context of domestic work is intertwined, in some cases, with human trafficking. "Domestic workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to exploitation, violence, harassment and forced labour, so more and more employers are recognising their rights," she said.

"In the context of the pandemic, accompanied by rising inequalities and economic devastation, the voices of survivors and victims of labour exploitation risk going unnoticed; this is why respect for human rights, the physical, mental and social well-being of the individual, and the development of institutional capacity remain our greatest objective,” Lezcano added.

The conference began with Isaías Montilla, from the Pan-American Health Organization, who explained the characterization of SINGRETRADS affiliates in relation to health and access to health services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, Yadira Samaniego, from SINGRETRADS, spoke about Convention 189: Decent Work for Domestic Workers.

"We were in the first line of defence during the height of the pandemic. We took care of the rest, our families, our employers, our friends, our neighbours, but very rarely did we think about who took care of us," Samaniego said.

The presentation of the minimum wage and labour rights of domestic workers was managed by the Directorate of Inspections of the Ministry of Labour and Professional Development (MITRADEL); while, from the Directorate of Employment, María José Ordoñez explained how to apply for a job in private placement agencies.

A presentation focused on Migrant Domestic Workers was given by María Isabel Saravia, Deputy Director General of the National Migration Service. The presentation on Attention to migrant workers and their labour rights was given by María Cortez, from Convergencia Sindical.

The presentation on Fraudulent Offers and Ethical Recruitment as a means for the protection of the rights of migrant workers was given by Marisol Linero, from IOM in Panama.

During the meeting, an information services fair was held with the participation Convergencia Sindical and SINGRETRADS, MITRADEL, the Fundación Casa Latinoamericana (CASALAT), the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, the Ombudsman's Office and the National Commission Against Trafficking in Persons.

The people who attended received legal advice on immigration, on occupational risks, reporting of accidents at work, maternity allowance, registration of employers of domestic workers and affiliations to the Social Security Fund, protection of human rights, labour rights of domestic workers, minimum wage and calculation of benefits.

Abdiel Mena, IOM's Communication Assistant for Development in Panama, also presented the Piénsalo 2 Veces campaign at the fair with representatives of the National Commission Against Trafficking in Persons. The campaign seeks to strengthen the capacities of migrants so that they can be safely informed about their rights, thus avoiding the risks associated with false offers and news for the purposes of labour exploitation and human trafficking.

The conference and service fair were funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int