All publications: domestic workers

Domestic work – Decent work: A ‘smart guide’ for domestic workers in Thailand

This ILO guidebook promotes the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers. Published in a variety of languages, it is aimed primarily at the domestic worker and explains the benefits and risks ssociated with domestic work while offering the...

Issue brief # 1

Promoting the Rights of Women Migrant Domestic Workers in Arab States: The Case of Lebanon

This Issue Brief is part of a series that examines women’s labour force participation in Arab States using gender equality and workers’ rights perspective.

Questions & answers - domestic workers in Indonesia

Addressing the urgent protection needs of Indonesian domestic workers.

Work conditions and profile of the domestic workers (in Bahasa Indonesia)

Brief presentation of a mapping survey result of the domestic workers in Bekasi, Depok, Pamulang, Pasar Minggu.

Factsheet on domestic workers in Indonesia

Domestic work constitutes an increasingly important part of the Indonesian economy. Up to 2,593,000 domestic workers are estimated to be orking in Indonesia.

International standard setting for domestic workers

The development of international labour standards for domestic workers will fill a significant gap in the promotion of decent work for all.

Brave women: the story of Indonesian migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong

This book contains the stories of Indonesian women, who went to Hong Kong to work as domestic workers. These stories are presented here to allow them, in their own words, to tell you about the very difficult problems they face to do no more than...

International Migration Papers No. 96

The gender dimension of domestic work in Western Europe

In Western Europe, as in many other parts of the world, domestic work has the charasteristic of attracting a large and increasing number of female migrants. In this report, Ms Maria Gallotti examines the current situation of domestic workers in...

International Migration Papers No. 95

Study of employment and Residence permits for migrant workers in major countries of destination.

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of current policies and procedures governing employment and residence permits for migrant workers in major countries of destination around the world. The study is intended to inform national and...

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Live-in Domestic Workers in Lebanon

Situational analysis of domestic work in China

Focuses on China's internal domestic workers situation. Chinese domestic workers are allowed to work overseas, but there are limited information available about the scale, trends, and working conditions.

Advocacy brief on decent work for domestic workers

The International Labour Office in Asia and the Pacific has launched an advocacy campaign to work with our constituents in governments, worker and employer organizations to help them prepare for the 2010 International Labour Conference discussion on...

Factsheet on domestic workers in China

Provides a summary of the situation of domestic workers in China and what constituents can do to address the issues.

Narrative report on the Second National Domestic Workers' Summit: Decent Work for Domestic Workers

Documents the results, recommendations and future policy reforms and programs agreed upon at the Second National Domestic Workers' Summit.

China: Specialist recommendation report on the questionnaire on decent work for domestic workers

A joint report by the ILO, UNIFEM and Beijing University Women's Law Study and Services Center.

Narrative report on the Philippine Campaign on Decent Work for Domestic Workers

Covers the period between May to August 2009. During the period, the Technical Working Group (TWG) conducted consultations, media campaigns, and network building initiatives leading up to the Second National Domestic Workers Summit, where it is...

Report IV(1): Decent work for domestic workers

The Governing Body has placed an item on decent work for domestic workers on the agenda of the 99th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of 2010 with a view to the setting of labour standards. This report, which provides...

Give girls a chance: tackling child labour, a key to the future (media summary)

This report focuses on girls and child labour, the theme of the World Day against Child Labour for 2009. This, of course, does not diminish our concern with the harm suffered by boys engaged in child labour. However the report is intended to bring...

Fact sheet on girl child labour

Girls, alongside with boys, are often engaged in heavy work for long hours. Nationally, 0.4 million girls and 0.6 million boys among children aged 10-14 were working in 2007 (National Labour Force Survey, BPS).

Managing labour migration - Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers

Focuses on the domestic helper market in Hong Kong, examines and compares various institutional arrangements for regulating migration that have been developed in Indonesia and the Philippines, referring to them generally as “migration...