Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 27: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his policy on both the Cambodian and Malaysian governments' failure to regulate recruiters and employers which leaves Cambodian migrant domestic workers exposed to a wide range of abuses, in which tens of thousands of Cambodian women and girls who migrate to Malaysia have little protection against forced confinement in training centres, heavy debt burdens, and exploitative working conditions. [33713/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I share the Deputy's concerns about the plight of Cambodian migrant domestic workers. I understand from our Embassies in the region that discussions are going on at the highest political level between the two governments involved regarding this problem. I welcome this and hope that the discussions will bring an end to the exploitation of these migrant domestic workers.

I note that Cambodia and Malaysia have each ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). As parties to these treaties, both countries have particular obligations in this regard. A number of UN agencies are working to protect the rights of domestic workers globally, a group often neglected by national labour laws. In particular, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has a number of projects to address risks of vulnerable migrants in the greater Mekong region.

New global standards address the specific obligations of governments to protect domestic workers. In June 2011, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted Convention No. 189 Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers.

Although, like Ireland, both Cambodia and Malaysia have yet to ratify this new ILO Convention, it provides valuable guidance on the minimum standards that countries could implement. These include equivalent labour protections provided to other workers, accessible complaints mechanisms, substantial penalties for agencies that violate standards, and prohibitions on salary deductions for recruitment fees.

Ireland, through the Irish Aid programme of overseas development assistance, has supported a partnership programme with ILO for the past nine years. This partnership has, among other issues, provided funding support to activities aimed at ending forced labour practices. Gender equality is a priority issue in Ireland's overseas development programme.