Publications on domestic work

  1. Social Protection Policy Paper. Paper 16

    Social protection for domestic workers: Key policy trends and statistics

    10 March 2016

    This policy paper: (i) provides an overview of the global situation of social security provisions for domestic workers in 163 countries; (ii) analyses trends, policies and gaps in terms of legal and effective social security coverage for domestic workers; (iii) describes and analyses the configuration of social security schemes for domestic workers, such as their institutional organization, financing and administration; (iv) informs on challenges to extending coverage; and (v) provides a compilation and description of international practices of social security schemes for the domestic work sector, including comparative information.

  2. Introductory guide

    Labour inspection and other compliance mechanisms in the domestic work sector

    26 November 2015

    This publication aims to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges for compliance in the domestic work sector. It also identifies how countries have defined policies and practices to provide better services to domestic workers and their employers in the domain of working conditions, with a specific focus on labour inspection. The guide provides information in a user-friendly manner, aiming to assist member States to identify practical measures to address non-compliance issues and to better shape the action of relevant institutions, in particular labour inspectorates, to bring the laws protecting domestic workers into practice.

  3. Publication

    Effective Protection for Domestic Workers: A guide to designing labour laws

    23 May 2012

    This guide is a practical tool for those involved in national legislative processes and in the design of labour laws, including government officials and representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations.

  4. Publication

    Achieving Decent Work for Domestic Workers

    22 May 2012

    An organizer’s manual to promote ILO convention no. 189 and build domestic workers’ power.

  5. Publication

    Domestic work is not just a “domestic issue”

    01 August 2011

    According to ILO estimates, there are between 50 and 100 million domestic workers worldwide and many countries have traditionally excluded them from employee protection legislation.