Domestic labour, what is considered in the DRC?

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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, domestic labour is still seen as a service rather than a job by most households, and even more so among domestic workers themselves, who have been situated in the identity appropriated by society, which is demeaning, and employers abuse this lack of knowledge about the value and rights of domestic workers.

For a long time, for reasons of poverty or lack of means, men and women went to work in the houses to earn a little money to support themselves. And the majority in this category turned out to be women and many are victims of abuse of any kind in this profession.

Even today, there are still many efforts to be made in relation to the promotion and valorization of domestic workers and this is why the Union of Congolese Women Domestic Workers (UFEDOC), a local organization located in North Kivu, precisely in the city of Goma, which participates in the efforts to fight against violence against domestic workers, is launching sensitization campaigns alongside the community on the protection and valorization of domestic workers.

Beyond that, the organization is thinking about a strategy for the adoption of conventions relating to the rights of domestic workers in the DRC, in this case convention 189 and 190, which are both conventions promulgated by the International Labor Organization and which aim to promote domestic workers.

Thus, a research was conducted by Ms. Angelina BINENE, during her stay at Ufedoc for a professional internship, in order to propose strategies and recommendations that could allow the organization to pursue the adoption of these conventions cited above.

"Conventions 189 and 190 are of great importance in the world of work, because they allow workers, especially domestic workers, to be protected in their work environment as well as in their field of application; And as other countries do, the DRC being a member of the international labor organization must follow the model of others; But this does not prevent a difference in the field of application of each convention according to the different regions. Ms. Angelina states in her work based on the two laws of the International Labour Organization that promote the profession of domestic worker in the world of work before giving the strategies for ratification of these conventions in the DRC.

"Awareness-raising; here, government leaders must be brought up to speed with the wishes of domestic labour rights groups;

- Conventions 189 and 190 must be adapted to the letters of the DRC labor code;

- Domestic workers must unite in order to make their voices heard by government authorities so that these conventions are adopted, because it is beneficial to them;

-As with any claim, mobilization is important so that workers and employers know each other's rights and obligations;

- It would also be necessary for all local organizations to agree on the strong and sensitive points that could serve as a reliable basis for the implementation of conventions 189 on the rights of domestic workers and 190 in the Democratic Republic of Congo as in other member states of the International Labor Organization (ILO);

-To make weekly reminders to the authorities, showing their willingness to change the working conditions of domestic workers throughout the Republic.

-It is also necessary that the good treatment of domestic workers begins with the people themselves, to encourage the authorities to feel the need to adopt these rights.

These are the strategies proposed and presented by Ms. Angie to the agents of UFEDOC with the support of the organization AGIR DRC which accompanies the latter in its activities, during the debriefing meeting.

Domestic labour is a profession that requires effort, energy and respect, and for this cause, everyone is called to adhere to this conviction in order to fight together for the rights of domestic workers and to consider this profession as decent as any other work worthy of the name.