News and articles on domestic work

  1. Press release

    ILO: 2.2 million workers affected by Typhoon Odette in the Philippines

    14 January 2022

    One month since Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) hit the Philippines, a new ILO assessment reveals nearly 2.2 million workers have been directly affected.

  2. News

    A game changer for safe and fair recruitment of domestic workers

    11 October 2021

    ILO launches the Hiring Challenge, a new online game designed to improve understanding of what’s needed for fair and safe recruitment of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, China.

  3. International Labour Standards

    Antigua and Barbuda ratifies nine ILO instruments

    24 August 2021

  4. © Sofia Trevino/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 2022

    The Future of Work Podcast

    Making domestic work decent work in South Africa

    02 July 2021

    In the ten years since it was adopted, ILO Convention No. 189 has become an important tool for giving domestic workers greater legal protection. However, for most domestic workers in the world, these legal rights have not yet let to practical changes. South African domestic worker Florence Sosiba shares her experience representing the rights of domestic workers in her country.

  5. Annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank

    ILO: The world economy needs a new engine of economic recovery

    16 October 2020

    In written statements to the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder warned against higher levels of poverty and inequality resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Highlighting the urgent need for social protection for all, he called for profound structural changes to build back better and faster.

  6. Domestic Workers' Day

    An aging Asia increases the demand for domestic workers. But what about their rights?

    16 June 2019

    Mr. Nilim Baruah, International Labour Organization’s Regional Migration Specialist for Asia and the Pacific, reviews progress on migrant domestic workers’ rights in Asia.

  7. Video News Release

    Uruguay takes the lead to protect domestic workers

    24 July 2012

    Providing protection for the world's millions of domestic workers has taken a major step forward. In April 2012, Uruguay became the first country to ratify ILO Convention 189, the landmark treaty guaranteeing domestic workers get the same core labour protections as other workers. Uruguay has long been a leader in protecting the rights of domestic workers, but ratifying the convention demanded a unique approach; a group of Uruguayan housewives were called on to represent the employers of domestic workers at the bargaining table.