Casablanca- Human Rights Watch urges Moroccan government to revise a pending draft law in parliament regarding legal protection of domestic workers.
In a recent letter to Mr. Abdeslam Seddiki, Minister of Employment and Professional Development, HRW said it is pleased to learn about the draft law that the government has approved and submitted to parliament. However, the rights group concluded that the draft “falls short of meeting international standards.”
HRW welcomes key provisions of the draft domestic worker law, but said Morocco should bring it into compliance with global standards set by the International Labor Organization Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.
According to the same organization, ILO Convention 189 sets minimum standards for the treatment of domestic workers. It entered into force on September 5, 2013, and to date 10 countries have ratified it.
The letter urges the minister to “ensure that the draft law currently under consideration meets international standards.”
HRW also pointed out that domestic workers above the minimum age of employment, fifteen years old, are excluded from basic protections under Morocco’s Labor Code.
The organization said it has closely studied the draft, and discussed it with officials, NGO’s, members of parliament, International Labor Office based in Rabat and an inter-ministerial delegation for human rights.
HRW’s major concerns include employment contracts, days of rest and paid leave, minimum wage, violations, hours of work, and social security.
The letter concluded by urging the Kingdom of Morocco to take further steps to become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to ratify Convention 189.
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