The ILC 99th session of June 2010 held in Geneva was a historic event in the domestic workers committee.  It was a unique in terms of good attendance of the delegates, as well as active participation by Government, Employers and Workers group during the discussion. From Africa Region, trade unions and domestic workers associations participated in this committee as delegates from their respective organizations and worked very closely to lobby government officials during the whole process of negotiations.  The trade union representatives and domestic workers associations came from Malawi, Uganda, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Togo.  All these organizations are in the International Domestic Workers Network and have been active in the "ILO Decent Work for Domestic Workers” campaign.

During the session the following are some memorable comments and observation made including one by Barbara Ayesu who noted that, "The discussions were very informative and created a lot of interest.  It is gratifying that there was an enormous support from the African  group led by the South African Government and it is my prayer that come next year 2011 the support from Government will be better to ensure that the Convention, supplemented by a recommendation, be adopted.

Brother Albert from KUDHEIHA cautioned that “The discussion, which has taken too long on the issues of 'definition and scope’ of domestic workers, evidence the fact that we really have to work hard back home with our social partners that are Employers and Governments.  However, we appreciate our Governments from Africa region who supported us as well as the trade union blocks like SATUC and EATUC.”

-- Submitted by Vicky Kanyoka