Domestic workers employed by foreign diplomatic staff will enjoy increased protection following the publication of new guidelines by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday, 12th September.

As a guiding principle, diplomatic staff of embassies or consulates in Ireland who wish to employ private domestic workers are expected to demonstrate respect for Irish laws and good employment practice. The guidelines clearly set out the expectations regarding payment, employment records, health insurance, and social security.

The publication of the new guidelines follows a campaign by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland highlighting the abuse of domestic staff by some foreign diplomats.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, said: “These new guidelines have been developed following a consultative and cooperative process involving other departments and State agencies, including the Departments of Justice and Equality and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) and An Garda Síochána. I also welcome the contribution of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland to this process.”

Minister Flanagan said that the adoption of these guidelines is consistent with Ireland’s ratification in July of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, of 2011.