domestic workers: decent work for all â south africa - Solidar

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In 1996 the National Labour, Economic and Development Institute (NALEDI) produced a Policy Memo examining organisation strategies for domestic workers. 52 Trade unionism was one of the models presented as an option, and the experience of domestic workers’ unions was highlighted. The document pointed out that SADWU’s collapse was not a reflection of the failure of the trade union model. Rather, it reflected the difficulties inherent in organising domestic workers and the need for more careful strategising. The launch of SADSAWU SADSAWU was launched in 2000 because labour laws introduced by the new democratic government of South Africa did not fully address the needs of domestic workers while, in the case of the then existing UIA, domestic workers continued to be excluded. The need was felt to create a strong and viable union for the domestic worker sector, not only to ensure that the rights of domestic workers would be protected but also to give these vulnerable men and women a voice in the drafting of future labour legislation which would include their sector. Further assistance was secured from foreign donors and the union’s Constitution was signed in Durban on 27 May 2000 by Hester Stephens (President) and Myrtle Witbooi (General Secretary). Its aims and objectives were as follows: • To protect and promote the interests of it members and to regulate relations between workers and employers; • To settle disputes between workers and employers; • To promote, support or oppose, as may be deemed expedient, any proposed legislative or other measures affecting the interests of members; • To provide, where deemed necessary, legal assistance to members in connection with their employment; • To work towards the unity of the working class, regardless of race, colour or religion, and to this end to work with any other progressive organisations, national or international, which share the same aims, objectives and ideas of this Union and which serve the interests of the members and the working class as a whole; • To organise the unorganised; • To provide training, education and improvement of skills needed by the members in their employment, and in running the affairs of the Union and to promote their standard of living generally; • To publish newsletters, articles and other documentation on domestic work; and • Do all such other lawful things as may be in the interest of members of the Union to promote the attainment of any or all of the above objectives. Interventions and campaigns Various steps have been taken to give effect to these aims and objectives. The exclusion of domestic workers from the previous UIA has been noted. The new Unemployment Insurance Bill drafted in 2000 again excluded domestic workers and provided only for their potential inclusion following a Ministerial investigation. In its March 2001 submission on the Bill COSATU presented this as part of its Core Areas of Concern and in 2003 the UIA was finally amended to terminate the exclusion of domestic workers. 53 Since June 2001 SADSAWU has been making submissions to the Department of Labour on minimum wages for domestic workers, which have increased in urban areas from R800 (approx. US$109) per month in 2002 to R1 442.86 (approx. US$197) in 2010, and in rural areas from R650 (approx. US$89) per month to R1 197.78 (approx. US$164) 54 . 52 Roseline Nyman An organisational challenge - The unionisation of domestic workers (NALEDI, Policy Memo December1996). 53 Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act 32 of 2003. 54 GNR 737 dated 17 July 2009 GLOBAL NETWORK 10
At a special conference on Domestic Workers in the New South Africa in October 2005 a number of resolutions were endorsed, including one approving a partnership of SADSAWU with the Afrilink Development Corporation who was to make resources available to assist with the organising of workers. 55 In 2009 SADSAWU accepted an invitation to serve on the Reference team of the Domestic Workers Research Project at the University of the Western Cape, which has enjoyed the benefit of SADSAWU’s active presence since the inception of the project in January 2009. The relationship between the project and the union has enabled the project to better understand the union’s activities as well as providing access to important information for improving conditions of workers in the sector. Campaigns that SADSAWU 56 has been involved in have focused on the following issues, among others: • Exploitation of workers by recruitment agencies; • A living wage; • Domestic Worker Plan launched by Old Mutual in 2007 • The National Health Act; • Sexual harassment at work; • A Skills Development Centre for Domestic Workers; and • The campaign for an ILO Convention for domestic workers. The last-mentioned campaign will enter its critical stage in 2010 and is dealt with in more detail in the following section. Key campaigns planned by SADSAWU for 2010 include: • Resuscitation of the domestic worker Skills Development Project which saw the training of approximately 27,000 domestic workers between 2004 and 2007, and • Compensation for injuries at work suffered by domestic workers. 57 4. What has SADSAWU done in preparation for an ILO Convention? In November 2006 an international conference on 'Respect and Rights: Protection for domestic workers!' was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Some 60 participants came from domestic workers' organisations, networks, trade unions and support organisations as well as researchers from all continents. It was the first-ever global meeting of this nature to discuss the situation of domestic workers and the development of effective international action to fight for their rights. The conference decided that an International Domestic Workers’ Network (IDWN), run by and for domestic workers' organisations across the world, should be established. At a follow-up meeting in September 2008 a provisional Steering Committee was formed and Myrtle Witbooi, General Secretary of SADSAWU, was elected as its chairperson. By virtue of her position she has been actively involved in the work of the IDWN, building organisation and leading the campaign for an ILO Convention on Domestic Work. SADSAWU is also one of the IDWN representatives of the Africa Region. 55 SADSAWU Records, Resolutions adopted at the SADSAWU Special Meeting in October 2005. 56 Myrtle Witbooi, General Secretary of SADSAWU, identified some major campaigns that the union had been involved in: interview, December 2009. 57 Interview with Myrtle Witbooi, 27 January 2010. GLOBAL NETWORK 11
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domestic workers: decent work for all â south africa - Solidar