Recognize Domestic Work as Work, Eliminate Violence in the Workplace!
APMM Statement on the Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) 2025
November 25 is recognized as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) to honour the Mirabal Sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country's ruler at that time. In Asia Pacific - as in many parts of the world - women still experience abuse, discrimination, harassment, and violence in the workplace, communities, and even in their own homes. These realities are deeply rooted in the social structures and gender norms that continuously control women’s lives.
Women migrant domestic workers are one of the most vulnerable in terms of socioeconomic and gender-based oppression. Domestic work is poorly unregulated and undervalued because it is often not recognized as part of the labor force. Domestic workers do not enjoy the same rights and protection as other workers - often neglected in labor policies in many countries. In most cases, policies for domestic work are separate from the major labor laws because it is still considered as informal work. If a policy on domestic work exists, provisions offer less protection and do not align with international labor rights principles.
Many women migrant domestic workers face long working hours, wage theft, travel document confiscations, sexual violence, and the likes. In addition, their live-in arrangements with employers have put them in more vulnerable positions - limiting their freedom and mobility and expression, restricting communication, and being exposed to physical abuses and sexual assaults. Despite the overflowing cases of migrant domestic workers being abused, legal remedies remain elusive. And when there are available mechanisms, access to them is hard to reach.
Today’s IDEVAW is not just a commemoration but a platform to demand for concrete changes that will end all structural injustices against working women, including migrant domestic workers. This means providing space for migrant domestic workers in policy-making, community building, advocacy and the likes, and strengthening the women’s movement to achieve a safe, free, and just world of work.
For this reason, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) and women migrant domestic workers in Asia Pacific strongly urge governments to ratify ILO Conventions 189 (Domestic Workers Convention) and 190 (Violence and Harassment Convention) as a crucial starting point for countries to ensure decent work and violence-free workplaces for women. Ratifying should translate into people-centered implementation of policies and its monitoring where women are at the center of meaningful participation.
We need to educate and organize more migrant rights advocates and women migrant domestic workers to raise awareness about migrants’ rights and their struggle. Organizing also plays a crucial role in developing leaders and advocates who can further advance the migrants’ movement.
More than ever, efforts to strengthen cross-border solidarity among civil society and grassroots organization need to be intensified. Just like in the whole process of the GCM Indicators by Migrants and Refugees, persistent collective work is needed to advance the rights and welfare of migrant domestic workers, and demand accountability from governments. Without this, we fail in the task of contributing for a better and more just society for everyone.
Rise up for women and let us build together a world without violence against women!
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The infographics presented are part of APMM’s forthcoming paper on the state of implementation of ILO Conventions C189 and C190 in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It unpacks the different provisions in the conventions and the concrete responses of said countries to protect migrant domestic workers. Please look forward to it!
