International Migrants Day 18 December 2007 Celebrations

United for Foreign Domestic Workers’ Rights (Ufdwrs) celebrated International Migrants’ Day by calling for recognition of domestic work as work across Asia

The coalition comprises of six international/regional and several national organisations called for “One Paid Day off A week and Recognise Domestic Work as Work” on the International Migrants’ Day (IMD), 2007.

Susan, a foreign domestic worker from Singapore, demanded “one day off means a full 24 hours off, not a few  hours off with curfew time to go back to employer’s home” at the 3rd ASEAN Civil Society Conference in Singapore, where the Campaign on “One Paid Day Off a Week” for foreign domestic workers” was lunched.  Starting with the campaign for “One Paid Day off a Week”, the coalition will continue to struggle for the legal recognition of domestic work as work and the inclusion of domestic work under the labour laws.

Snapshots of FDWs’ celebration for IMD across Asia...

In Cambodia- At the national event to commemorate IMD joined by various regional groups, a former FDW gave a testimony highlighting the specific vulnerabilities of FDWs and their rights to health. Thousands of returnee and prospect migrants marched on the streets of Phnom Penh together with migrants’ rights activists from various countries. One of the calls during the march was – recognise domestic work as work.

In Indonesia- More than 200 FDWs gathered around to launch a national campaign for “One Day Off” and the translated campaign toolkit for FDWs, on the 17th of December as part of national members’ on-going efforts towards pushing the Indonesian government to ratify the migrants’ convention. The event took place in Karawang-West Java province, where the largest numbers of women migrants leave the province to take up domestic work in other destination countries.

In Thailand- With the objective to raise awareness on migrant workers’ rights and non-discrimination, Thai Labour Solidarity committee organised events whereby FDWs representatives participated and raised the issue of the lack of labour rights protection for FDWs.  The Thai Labour Network submitted a petition to the Director of Labour relation department. The petition contained the emerging issues concerning migrants and calls for removal of discriminatory laws and policies against migrants.


In Hong Kong, members of Asia Migrant Coordination Body, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, United Filipinos Migrant Workers and many other groups marched on the 16th December and called for upholding of labour rights including the enforcement of the law granting for one day off for FDWs in Hong Kong. The groups submitted a communiqué containing the issues and concerns of migrant workers to the government.

In India- during the week of IMD, self-organised, mainly women domestic worker groups held an event where the UFDW campaign and the need for one day off was discussed. The sharing also includes the experiences of returned domestic workers from five different destination countries.