All publications: domestic workers

Decent work for domestic workers

Initial assessment and planning workshop on decent work for domestic workers: Documentation report

The Domestic Work Technical Working Group (DW TWG), which is composed of government agencies, trade unions, domestic workers’ associations, and employers group, was formed in 2009 to serve as the consultative venue and campaign vehicle for the...

State of occupational safety and health practices at workplace for domestic workers in COVID-19 and possibilities for action

The report identifies Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices for domestic workers, which could be implemented to respond to pandemic conditions. Based on insights provided by domestic workers themselves, trade unionists working with domestic...

Domestic work

Making decent work a reality for domestic workers: Progress and prospects in Asia and the Pacific, ten years after the adoption of the...

In 2011, the international community adopted the ILO’s Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), which recognized for the first time that domestic work is work and that domestic workers should enjoy the same labour protections as all other...

Domestic Worker Stories

Celebrating International Domestic Workers Day 2021 #Valuing domestic work as work

June 16th 2021 is the 10th anniversary of the adoption of ILO’s Domestic Work Convention (No. 189) at the International Labour Conference in Geneva. Every year in Myanmar, we celebrate this day to raise awareness about the valuable contribution...

Protecting wages of migrant workers in the Arab States: Discussion Note for Policymakers

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, migrant workers faced critical wage-related issues globally, and especially in the Arab States, yet the scale of the problem has vastly increased as the pandemic led to job losses, salary reductions and unplanned...

Executive Summary

Making decent work a reality for domestic workers. Progress and prospects ten years after the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention,...

Since the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), domestic workers have gained legal protection in many countries. For too many domestic workers, however, decent work has not yet become a reality. At least 75.6 million people...

Report

Making decent work a reality for domestic workers: Progress and prospects ten years after the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention,...

This report assesses the working conditions of domestic workers ten years after the adoption of Domestic Workers Convention in 2011. It highlights the progress made over a decade, as well as the remaining legal and implementation gaps, and provides...

A comprehensive analysis of policies and frameworks governing foreign employment for Nepali women migrant workers and migrant domestic...

A comprehensive analysis of policies and frameworks governing foreign employment for Nepali women migrant workers and migrant domestic...

One of the principal causes and risk factors for forced labour and trafficking, identified by past research led by the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Work in Freedom (WiF) Programme, is restrictive and gender-insensitive migration...

Promising practices for fair recruitment: Code of Conduct on the fair recruitment of Filipino migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong (China)

This promising practice is part of a series, and results from a stocktaking exercise undertaken five years after the launch of the Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI).

Policy resource package

Extending social security to domestic workers

Key lessons learned from international experience

Policy resource package

Extending social security to workers in the informal economy

Key lessons learned from international experience

Women domestic workers

Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and beyond on women domestic workers in Nepal

The report aims to unfold the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and beyond on women domestic workers in Nepal along with challenges faced and the way forward.

Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No.189) and Domestic Workers Recommendation, 2011 (No.201)

The Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No.189) recognizes the special conditions under which domestic work is carried out and provides provisions concerning decent work for domestic workers. The Domestic Workers Recommendation, 2011 (No.201)...

Global Deal for Decent Work & Inclusive Growth - Thematic Brief

Social Dialogue for the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy

Social dialogue has a vital role to play in supporting the transition from the informal to the formal economy. Drawing on case studies from around the world, this Global Deal thematic brief illustrates how social dialogue, involving governments and...

Malaysia Decent Work Country Programme

Promoting decent work for sustainable development

The Malaysia Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2019–20 provides a framework for the first of two phases of structured cooperation between the ILO, the Government of Malaysia, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) and the Malaysian Trades Union...

DIILM Updates

International Labour Migration Governance

DIILM update #3 focuses on the ILO’s work with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, and Population (MOLIP); Parliamentarians, the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, labour organizations and CSOs to strengthen the legislative and policy...

Research brief

Migration cost survey among Indonesian and Filipina domestic workers in Malaysia

This research brief presents the findings of the survey on migration cost of Indonesian and Filipina domestic workers in Malaysia. The survey is guided by the ILO’s 2019 General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment and...

DIILM Updates

Making decent work a reality for domestic workers

DIILM Update No. 2 Domestic Workers, October 2020

Policy brief

Policy brief on common myths and facts about domestic work (in Nepali)

The policy brief includes related facts and recommended laws, policies and practices drawing on the experience of the Programme.