The government has angered anti-slavery campaigners by refusing to back an International Labour Organization (ILO) convention on rights for domestic workers, despite an apparent international consensus on the issue.

The UK was one of only a handful of member countries of the ILO not to approve the convention when it was voted through by an 83 per cent majority in Geneva today. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that the UK was abstaining in the vote because it did not want to ratify the convention to be applied in this country “for the foreseeable future.”

"The UK already provides comprehensive employment and social protections to domestic workers and we do not consider it appropriate or practical to extend criminal health and safety law, including inspections, to private households employing domestic workers," said a BIS spokesman.

Domestic workers, such as cleaners, cooks and nannies, are not covered by most protective employment legislation, such as the minimum wage or the working time directive, because they are counted as members of the household they stay in. The convention contains measures to protect them from exploitation, such as banning the practice of confiscating passports, as well as commitments to set a minimum age for domestic workers and maximum working hours.

The CBI, which is part of the UK delegation to the ILO and has a vote as an employer organisation, said that it was opposed to the convention’s stance on working hours in particular.

“The proposed convention would undermine the principle of EU law that an individual should be protected against being forced to work long hours but can choose to work longer if they wish.”

But unions and campaigners slammed the government’s position.

Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International, said: "This is just shocking. It's letting down other countries, it's letting down those most vulnerable to forced labour and abuse, and it's letting down the citizens and traditions of this country.

"Britain makes great and rightful claim to leading the struggle against slavery for 200 years. Here is a critical front and the UK is not only not pulling its weight but is actually trying to pull others back.”

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The international community – governments, employers and unions – have united to support this convention to give dignity and respect to 50 million domestic workers around the world. Justice for domestic workers is long overdue in the UK, as well as in developing countries.

“I am appalled that the CBI voted against the convention and that the British government abstained. The votes show that employers and governments around the world disagreed with their lack of compassion – they are thoroughly isolated and should be ashamed of their position.”