The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations allows diplomats to employ diplomatic housekeeping staff (officially known as private housekeepers/servants) and to bring them to Belgium to work for them.
A private housekeeper is someone who is in domestic service to the diplomat and is not considered an employee of the sending State.
Employment of diplomatic housekeeping staff must be approved by the Directie Protocol of the FPS Foreign Affairs. Once the employment has been approved, the employee will be issued with a special Type S identity card.
The conditions of employment of a housekeeper apply to diplomatic housekeeping staff.
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Omar García is a staff member who has been specialising in domestic staff since 2012. He follows up on all questions related to domestic work and provides empowerment training for domestic staff.