Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012
327 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if in view of the fact that Uruguay has ratified the ILO convention 189, if he will consider ensuring that Ireland ratifies said convention in relation to domestic workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25409/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the successful outcome of discussions at the International Labour Conference (ILC) that led to the adoption of a new international labour standard aimed at ensuring Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The final text of the draft Convention was one that the Irish Government was in a position to support.
I am aware Uruguay is the first country to ratify the Convention. The issue of ratification by Ireland of this Convention is being considered in the context of our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments. In this regard, the Convention will be examined from the perspective of any changes that may be required to existing domestic legislation. However, it is important to note that domestic workers are protected by virtue of the fact that the full suite of employment rights legislation, including that of redress for violations of their employment rights, apply to domestic workers in the same way as they apply to other categories of employees in Ireland.
A voluntary Code of Practice for Persons Employed in Other People's Homes was developed under the Industrial Relations Act 1990. The Code sets out certain employment rights and practices for persons employed in other people's homes and encourages good practice and compliance with the law in such employment situations. In any proceedings before a court, or a workplace relations dispute resolution body, a code of practice shall be admissible in evidence and any provision of the code which appears to the court, body or officer concerned to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings shall be taken into account in determining that question.
