Decent work for domestic workers; local measures for Sudan

Abstract

This research falls under the umbrellas of human rights and human security: decent work’s constituents embrace meanings of human rights including dignity, equality and fairness. Decent work also embraces constituents of human security such as education, social security and health measures. The research narrows down to focus on the measures and implications which have to be considered to implement the concept of decent work for informal jobs- looking in specific at one of the most prominent which is domestic work. The research attempted to achieve the following objectives: to disclose the historical and current contexts of domestic work in Sudan, to expose a show case of domestic work practice, relations and dynamics and finally to carry out processes of review and amendment to the Sudan’s local domestic work in line with the international regulations; mainly the ILO Convention 189. The research employed a mixed-method research approach, depending on “QUAL-quan”; where most of the methods used were qualitative including semi-structured interviews, focus groups and life histories/narratives. While a slight share of quantitative questionnaires appeared in two parts of the Delphi Technique. Thematic analysis was extensively used to present findings. Findings of the research were of a versatile nature: domestic work context interviews demonstrated an extended notion of slavery and forced labour in major dealings and parts of the employment relationships and dynamics between domestic workers and their employers which still witnesses a prominence of a master-service relationship rather than an employer-employee relation. Household interviews, focus group discussions and narratives revealed an absence in decent work relations expressed by both domestic workers and their employers. The showcase- exemplified by these lastly mentioned methods- also demonstrated an expression of a strong need and appeal for a regulative legislation to guarantee rights and administer obligations of both parties in a domestic work (employment relationship). The Delphi Technique brought together a panel of experts pertinent to domestic work which reviewed the Sudan domestic work acts and reached a consensus for their amendment so as to include proper and decent work conditions and measures, to be in compliance with international standards. Recommendations of this research came in three folds: policy statement to be presented to the National Assembly and the Khartoum State Legislative Council so as to put into action the amendment of the federal and state domestic work acts. Policy recommendations were put forward to pave the way for decent domestic work; targeting policy makers in the National Assembly, Khartoum Legislative Council, Ministry of Labour, Sudan Workers Union, civil society… to develop programs for advocacy, law reform, rights promotion so as to achieve better work conditions and enjoyment of labour rights to domestic workers. Finally further study recommendations were suggested so as to fill-in the research gaps which were discovered while conducting this research.