E/CN.4/2004/76 page 21 11 See the letter sent by the Special Rapporteur to the Government of Israel on 26 June 2003 (E/CN.4/2004/78/Add.1). 12 See the allegation sent by the Special Rapporteur to the Government of Saudi Arabia on 3 September 2002 (E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.1). 13 Ibid. 14 E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/31. 15 During a visit to Canada, for example, the Special Rapporteur received information on the possibility of obtaining a work permit as a migrant domestic worker under the national domestic workers’ programme. See E/CN.4/2001/83/Add.1. 16 See the allegation sent by the Special Rapporteur to the Government of Israel on 19 September 2002 (E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.1). See also the allegation sent by the Special Rapporteur to the Governor of Hong Kong on 4 June 2003 (E/CN.4/2004/78/Add.1). 17 For example, in 1999, Bangladesh went as far as prohibiting its nationals from working abroad as domestic staff. Indonesia has prohibited work as domestic staff in some of the Gulf States. Pakistan has established 35 as the minimum age for applying for a job as a domestic worker. 18 Some countries, such as Sri Lanka, require all female migrant domestic workers to have a written contract before they leave the country. The contract between the worker and the employer must be ratified by the Sri Lankan Embassy in the country of destination. The contract is a basis for negotiations between the recruitment agency and the Sri Lankan diplomatic staff in the country of destination in the event of disputes. 19 See the reply from the Government of Singapore, dated 20 January 2003 (E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.1). 20 The canton of Zurich, Switzerland, has a model contract which also applies to illegal female workers, stipulating working hours and the minimum wage. In theory, this contract enables all female migrant domestic workers, irrespective of their migrant status, to claim their rights in court. 21 In order to protect the rights of migrant domestic staff working in the homes of foreign diplomats, some Governments, including that of Germany, have circulated a note urging employers to observe the minimum labour and social standards applied to nationals. Some international organizations have adopted codes of conduct on the recruitment of migrant domestic workers. 22 In most cases consulates confine the assistance provided to migrant domestic workers who report, or are reported by, their employers, to providing interpreters and assisting and being present during the legal proceedings, or by helping migrant domestic workers to return home and issuing passports or travel documents.