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Outcome 5: Thematic Funding for 2014-2015 - Final Independent Evaluation

eval_number:

2572

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/2572

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Labour standards

category:

International Labour Standards

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comments:

targeted users/beneficiaries: INWORK, ACTEMP, and ILO partners working on C189

challenges:

The evaluation highlighted a level of resistance from employers to engage on domestic workers’ rights, as well as weak linkages between different ‘levels’ of employers’ organizations. There was also insufficient attention to researching incentives for employers to work on the domestic work sector.

success:

The project was able to effectively work with some employers by drawing on the ILO’s wider good relations with employers bodies, built through other areas of collaboration. The ILO was also able to better work with employers by emphasizing its technical role as a knowledge broker.

context:

The need to develop an understanding of how to engage with employers is an area of general concern for ILO staff and partners working on the ratification and implementation of C189, so these learnings can be generalized.

description:

Engaging effectively with employers for domestic workers’ and low wage workers’ rights. Working with employers is a crucial component of the ILO tripartite strategy, and is critical for promoting the rights of domestic workers and other vulnerable/ low wage workers. However the domestic work sector presents particular challenges for this. Progress has been made by the project in reaching out to umbrella employers’ organizationsby drawing on the ILO’s wider good relations with them through other collaborations, and by emphasizing their technical expertise and knowledge generation role over their political role. In addition, some novel employers’ organizations (e.g. the Association of Employers of Domestic Workers in Zambia) have been supported. However the project has highlighted some challenges for working with employers of domestic workers in particular, which could act as a basis for wider learning and the development of knowledge tools. This includes the following: In the case of supporting Associations for Employers of Domestic Workers (as in Zambia), there is a need for deeper research and consultation to understand what would incentivize employers to organize. Where employers’ of DW have been motivated to organize on the basis of solidarity with workers, and feminist principles (rather than by employers’ own interests), this may create barriers for inclusion within wider employers’ umbrella organizations and tripartite structures. How to support the recognition of such social justice based employers’ organizations by wider tripartite constituents could thus be an area of inquiry. The scope for promoting DWs’ labour rights through agencies for domestic workers (e.g. Maids’ Centres) also seems a promising avenue, but (judging by DW contract templates produced by Maid’s centers in Zambia examined during the evaluation) the extent to which they represent employers’ interest vis a vis workers’ rights is an area for further research.

administrative_issues:

Building a knowledge base on work with employers of domestic workers may require securing additional financial resources from donors.

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/220056

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location:

country:

Inter-Regional

region:

Inter-Regional

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eval_title:

Outcome 5: Thematic Funding for 2014-2015 - Final Independent Evaluation