Yolanda Díaz consigns ratification of conventions on domestic work, violence and harassment

She was accompanied at the event by the Director-General of the ILO, Guy Ryder, who praised Spain's commitment to the organisation and highlighted the level of cooperation between the parties. He also praised the work of Vice-President Díaz, who resumed ratifications after more than a decade of paralysis, and for the strong impetus she has given to social dialogue in her country, and the effects that the labour reform, the result of this tripartite consensus, is having.

Spain, leader in ILO conventions

Spain thereby becomes the country that has ratified the most ILO international instruments. To date, 133 conventions dedicated to labour rights and social justice have been signed with this UN agency, which brings together governments, employers and workers from 187 member states.

As the vice-president explained, it is not a question of ratifying conventions, but of settling historical debts and demonstrating Spain's commitment "to social justice and the dignity of working people". Díaz has assured that she will follow up on that commitment soon with the ratification of Convention 188 on work in fishery work and Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers.

Ryder recalled that Spain had spent a long 11 years without ratifying any conventions and that the renewed impetus in this area was thanks to the vice-president. "With these two ratifications today, we put an end to this anomaly and we renew our commitment to the global outlook that courageous and ambitious transformations must always have, also in the social and labour world", said Díaz.

Convention 177

Convention 177 on domestic work, adopted in 1996, sets standards to improve the conditions of domestic workers. It will enter into force in Spain twelve months after the date of registration of its ratification.

As the minister pointed out, this convention "is the embodiment of equality between home-based workers and other salaried workers, with the place of work no longer implying discrimination in the enjoyment of basic labour rights".

"The future is already here, we have to adapt and remote work must always be a guarantee of freedom and opportunities for workers", insisted Díaz.

Convention 190

Convention 190 on violence and harassment was adopted by the ILO in 2019 and explicitly aims to eradicate violence and harassment "in the world of work", a broad term covering situations and groups that go beyond the employment relationship.

Díaz underlined that, for the first time, this convention provides international level protection against violence and harassment in the world of work that is cross-cutting and gender-sensitive. "We are thus moving towards a more diverse, inclusive and feminist world of work, where security is a right for all", she stressed.

Ratification of Convention 189 progresses

Convention 189 on domestic workers was approved by the Council of Ministers in April and sent to the General Courts. The ratification process is expected to take a few months and after the summer it could be ready to be deposited in Geneva, together with Convention 188 on work in fisheries, which has already been approved by the legislative body.

The minister said that the government is already working on the regulatory adaptations required by this international instrument in terms of employment and social security.

The ratification of these conventions is a reflection of the country's commitment to the ILO, but above all to the need to address global challenges from a global perspective. "On the road to labour rights, no collective or individual can be left behind", Díaz insisted.

Non official translation