On 19 May 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Professional Development (MITRADEL), the Ministry of Education and the National Migration Service, launched "Knowing our rights and employment services: Guide for Domestic Workers in Panama”. 

This guide aims to provide migrant domestic workers with clear and accessible information about their labour rights, as well as guidance on how to enforce them. It is essential that they are informed about crucial aspects such as minimum wage, working hours, weekly rest, social benefits and job security. 

As part of this effort, a series of trainings were carried out that culminated on 14 July 2024, as well as the registration of migrant domestic workers in Panama. These trainings sought to improve the skills and knowledge of this labour sector, as well as to guarantee the fulfilment of their rights. Furthermore, the training sessions were developed with the goal of contributing to the professionalization of migrant domestic workers and promoting a safer work environment. 

Ana Gabriela Soberón, Director of Employment at MITRADEL, stressed the relevance of this type of training because "there is a lot of ignorance on the part of workers about what their rights are and who represents them. This is a work that must always be done jointly, because it is a matter of honouring the worker, a matter of preventing workers from being violated." 

"We are very grateful to IOM because our fellow migrant domestic workers were in need of these trainings," said Yadira Samaniego, General Secretary of the Trade Union of Domestic Service and Allied Workers (SINGRETRADS). 

Migrant domestic workers play a crucial role in society and contribute significantly to the well-being of many families. However, there are deficiencies in the education and training of this labour sector, which limits their professional development and their ability to access better job opportunities. 

According to data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), international migrant workers represent a significant proportion of the global workforce, with steady growth in recent years. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which establishes in Article 23 the right to work and to equitable working conditions, it is necessary to focus efforts to ensure that this key sector of the population has access to adequate training and knows their labour rights. 

For more information, contact IOM's communications team Panama via email iompanama@iom.int.