ILC110/III/(B) – Securing decent work for nursing personnel and domestic workers, key actors in the care economy Introduction 18. Eleven countries have ratified both Conventions: Ecuador, Finland, Guyana, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Sweden and Uruguay. 19. The Committee encourages Member States to consider the possibility of ratifying one or both of these crucial instruments to provide effective protections for these essential workers. In this regard, the Committee recalls that countries may avail themselves of technical assistance from the Office should they wish to do so. 20. A list of the Member States that are currently bound by the provisions of these instruments is contained in Appendix I. X V. Objectives and structure 21. In accordance with the focus of the General Survey, as indicated by the Governing Body in its discussions, Chapter 1 begins by providing a general overview of the care economy, what it is and who care workers are. It examines the characteristics of the care economy workforce, including the highly feminized nature of care work, the large number of care workers in informal employment and the large migration flows among care workers. 22. Chapters 2 to 6 then examine the provisions of Convention No. 149 and Recommendation No. 157, as well as current issues relating to nursing personnel. Chapters 7 to 10 examine the provisions of Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201, addressing the specific challenges faced by domestic workers, particularly migrant women domestic workers. 23. Chapters 11 and 12 examine issues of particular relevance to either nursing personnel or domestic workers, or both. Chapter 11 focuses on issues related to the migration cycle of nurses and domestic workers, while Chapter 12 addresses freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. 24. Chapter 13 looks at the potential of the instruments, examining prospects for the ratification of Conventions Nos 149 and 189, as well as the challenges and obstacles to ratification and implementation reported by Member States. It also focuses on good practices and lessons learned in the implementation of the instruments. 25. In light of the diverse matters addressed by the four instruments examined, the Committee has examined only certain issues in depth. Other topics have been examined in less detail and to the extent that they are relevant to the underlying subject of decent work for care economy workers in a changing economy. 26. The Committee hopes that this General Survey will contribute to the development and effective implementation of measures by ILO Member States, in consultation with the social partners, to improve the situation of nursing personnel, domestic workers and other care economy workers, promote respect for their labour rights and ensure their access to decent work. 21