ILO seeking feedback from officials, NGOs.

THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) is seeking advice from the Cambodian government and civil society groups in drafting an international convention on domestic workers' rights, the ILO told the Post.

"We would like all countries to share with us their advice on a draft convention that aims to protect domestic workers," Tun Sophorn, the national project coordinator for the ILO, said last week.

The ILO, she said, needs a convention that is accepted and understood by all countries so it can be successfully implemented.

Oum Mean, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Labour, said the ministry had yet to receive the ILO's questionnaires, but that officials intended to help the ILO with the project.

Though the drafting of the convention would be a significant achievement, Oum Mean said the real test would come during the implementation phase.

An Bunhak, chairman of the Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies, said it was "important" for Cambodian domestic workers to know that laws are in place to protect them.

Tun Sophorn said she could not accurately estimate when the convention would be drafted and implemented, adding that she would have a better idea after an ILO summit scheduled to be held in Switzerland in June 2011.

According to the Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies, 2,378 domestic workers travelled to Malaysia for domestic work in the first six months of 2009.