Statement by India at the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council (10 to 28 September, 2018) on Item 3: Clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and the Independent Expert on democratic and equitable international order delivered by Dr. Sadre Alam, First Secretary [10 September 2018, Geneva] 

Thank you Madam Chair.

2. We thank the Special Rapporteur (SR) Ms. Urmila Bhoola for submitting the present report that focuses on migrant women workers in the global domestic economy, the most vulnerable subset within an already vulnerable group.

3. Contemporary forms of slavery are a global issue and occur in every region of the world and mostly in the private economy. The word ‘slavery’ covers a variety of human rights violations including those related to domestic servitude. Extreme poverty is a common linking factor in all contemporary forms of slavery and needs to be eradicated.

4. Migrant domestic workers face unique challenges, as domestic work is often not considered as employment, households not recognized as workplaces and private persons who hire them not recognized as employers. These informal jobs perpetuate traditional gender norms and offer limited or no social protection or labour rights. Those tied to a particular employer through unfair systems of labour sponsorship and in irregular situation being ‘invisible’ to authorities are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

5. All migrants, irrespective of their legal status are entitled to fundamental human rights, essential services and like all labour, to a decent work, which is a key objective of SDG 8 and an antidote to all forms of labour exploitation and human rights violations at work.

6. Migration is indispensable part of the human civilization and there is a need to create greater awareness about the positive aspects of migration.

7. India is widely considered to be among the top countries of origin for migrants globally. However it is much lesser appreciated fact that India is also among the major countries of destination, as also a transit country.

8. The Government of India has accorded top priority in ensuring a safe, orderly, legal and humane migration process. We are working towards strengthening the eco-system and the institutional framework to support migrant workers in all stages of migration cycle, protect them and promote their welfare.

9. Together, we need to enhance our ability to not only manage migration better but also facilitate greater human mobility informed by a migrant-centric human rights approach.

10. Further, India is fully committed to ILO’s principles and its decent work agenda. India is a signatory to all the core ILO conventions related to forced labor and child labour and has ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its three protocols. We are making efforts to effectively implement our laws and strengthen the social protection systems.

11. A human rights perspective and application of relevant labour standards related to decent work and social justice inter alia to migrant domestic workers through a multi-stakeholder partnership would help address contemporary forms of slavery like forced labour, debt bondage and servitude in global domestic economy and the effective fulfillment of the related SDGs.

12. Lastly, as mandated, the SR’s recommendations to eliminate the contemporary forms of slavery could include remedies that address its causes and consequences such as poverty, the existence of demand factors and relevant measures to strengthen international cooperation. Examples of effective global best practices and a compilation and analysis of national legislations relating to the prohibition of slavery and slavery-like practices could also be shared in order to assist States in their national efforts.

Thank you.