ILO accepts proposals on domestic workers

BANGALORE: The general body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which met recently at Geneva has accepted recommendations made on proposals on welfare of domestic workers, Union Minister for Labour Mallikarjuna Kharge said.He said that while 43 countries, including India, voted in favour of the issue, 16 nations opposed it and another 63 countries which participated in the meeting remained neutral during voting.Stating that the conventions and recommendations which were adopted at the ILO meeting was optional, the minister said that India was in favour of implementing the proposals through suitable legislations.He said the recommendations on the issue included ensuring weekly holidays, fixing minimum wages, adopting social security measures and protection for migrant labourers.The Union labour minister said that India’s initiatives to ensure access to better health care to the working class, including that of domestic w o r k e r s , r e c e i v e d accolades. The ILO had selected the scheme from about 18 social security schemes across the world for publication, he informed.