PM says Household Workers Contribute to National Development

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says household workers, who are predominantly women, occupy positions of importance and make their contribution to national development.

“This largely female cadre has contributed throughout every period of our history to the fundamentals of our development,” said the Prime Minister.

She was speaking at the launch of the Jamaica Household Workers Union on Friday, March 15 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

The Prime Minister described the launch as a historic moment in the country’s development.

“The concept of a union for household workers to ensure that they are respected and enjoy equality of rights in order to maintain their dignity in the Jamaican society, is a manifestation of the vibrancy of our democracy,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

The Prime Minister noted that the launch was taking place as the Government is reviewing the International Labour Organization (IL0) Convention 189, which stipulates “Domestic work is decent work”, and emphasised that the Government “will not fail to accept all the conditions that will result in an environment of decent work for every household worker in Jamaica.”

The Jamaica Household Workers Union is led by President Shirley Pryce and seeks to protect the rights of, and providing skills training for domestic workers.

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