Coverage to migrant domestic workers
A growing number of domestic workers are forced to leave their countries in search of better employment opportunities. In many countries, such as Italy or Spain, migrant domestic workers outnumber national domestic workers (Arango et al, 2013). The evidence indicates that the migrant population is more vulnerable given that workers generally work longer hours receive lower wages as compared with national workers. They also have more reported cases of sexual abuse and gender violence (D’Souza, 2010). For example, according to 2004 estimates, in Western Europe wages of migrant domestic workers were 24 per cent lower than those of national domestic workers (Gallotti, 2009). This situation also occurs among workers of different nationalities who work in the same country, such as in Malaysia, for example, where some studies have found that Filipino domestic workers receive higher wages than their Indonesian counterparts.
Migrant domestic workers may be excluded from social security schemes even when they are legal residents of the destination country. Luckily in the majority of countries they can count on legal coverage by social security systems (Figure). Of course this situation is more complex in the case of irregular or seasonal migrants, who, due to their situation as foreigners or illegal aliens, often do not qualify for benefits from social assistance programmes. Figure demonstrates that for 56 of the 70 countries identified in the study that provide coverage for the domestic work sector, at least 48 entitle migrant domestic workers to coverage.
Number of countries with social security provisions for domestic work, according to whether or not they include legal coverage for migrant workers (52 countries)
Source: Department of Social Protection ILO database housework.
In several countries that provide social protection for migrant domestic workers, access and coverage conditions differ and are generally less favourable as compared with those for national domestic workers. For example, in Singapore coverage by migrant domestic workers is on a voluntary basis whereas that of national domestic workers is mandatory. Another case is Israel, where migrant domestic workers have access to health insurance coverage only; in other words, protection does not include the range of benefits provided by the National Social Security Institute (BTL).
In most cases, migrant workers must have a work permit and update their migratory status regularly to be able to register for social security schemes. In general, developed countries have more access requirements.
Some countries have ratified bilateral and multilateral social security agreements that include among others clauses for the portability of benefits or the totalling of the number of contributions across countries, especially for old-age pensions. This means that the entitlements accumulated in one of more territories, whether benefits or contribution periods, must be guaranteed to the migrant worker in another ratifying territory (ILO,2013). This situation is crucial for income protection when workers finally return to their home countries; nevertheless, it needs to be pointed out that these practices are still incipient around the world.
References
Arango et al. Extension of social protection of migrant domestic workers in Europe (Geneva).
D’Souza. 2010. Moving towards Decent work for Domestic workers: An Overview of the ILO’s work. Working Paper 2 / 2010.
ILO. 2009. The gender dimension of domestic work in Western Europe. International Migration Papers No. 96. International Migration Programme
OIT. 2013. Manual de buenas prácticas para trabajadoras y empleadoras de servicio doméstico. Organización Internacional del Trabajo 2013. Santiago