International Domestic Workers Day 2025
Tanzania marks International Domestic Workers Day with acts of solidarity and compassion
16 June 2025
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (ILO News) -The month of June is rich with international observances that shine a spotlight on the rights of vulnerable populations including children, victims of forced labour, survivors of sexual violence, and domestic workers. Among these important dates, June 16 stands out in the world of work as it marks the adoption of ILO Convention No. 189 in 2011.
This Convention established the first global standards to ensure decent work for domestic workers, and the day is now globally recognised as International Domestic Workers’ Day. In Tanzania, domestic workers marked the occasion not only with calls for dignity and recognition but also with compassion and solidarity. In a heart warming gesture, members of the Domestic Workers Union of Tanzania (CHODAWU) visited Amana Regional Referral Hospital in Ilala, where they donated essential items to patients in the casualty ward.
This year’s theme emphasized the need for recognition, respect, and rights for domestic workers many of whom continue to work under informal arrangements, often without contracts, social protection, or fair wages. But on this day, the workers most of whom are women chose to shift the spotlight from their own struggles to giving back to others in need.
“Today is a day to reflect on our role in society, but also to show that we are part of the communities we serve,” said Zanini Athumani, Chairperson of the Domestic Workers Union. “By visiting the hospital, we want to extend kindness and solidarity to others who are facing hardship.”
The delegation distributed hygiene supplies and other essential items to patients in both the maternity and infants' wards. The initiative was entirely self-organized by the domestic workers, demonstrating the strength of community among domestic workers and their commitment to caring beyond the walls of the households they serve.
A day for recognition and reform
While Tanzania has yet to ratify the ILO Convention 189, recent momentum including the participation of domestic workers in the 2025 National May Day celebrations has brought the issue into public and political focus.
Caroline Mugalla, ILO Country Director for Eastern Africa, praised the domestic workers’ initiative and reiterated the ILO’s commitment to supporting their recognition and rights. “Domestic workers are essential to our economy and communities. Their visibility and contributions both in the home and beyond must be recognized and respected,” she said.
The way forward
Tanzania’s domestic workers continue to advocate for formal recognition under labour laws, access to social protection, and ratification of ILO Convention 189. Events like today’s hospital visit showcase the empathy, resilience, and leadership of domestic workers qualities that too often go unseen in national discourse.
“Being a domestic worker is not just a job it is caring work, it is essential work,” said one of the participants during the hospital visit. “We hope that by giving today, we also help others understand that we too deserve to be seen, heard, and protected.”
As the country reflects on the contributions of domestic workers, the day serves as a reminder that advancing their rights is not just a labour issue but a matter of human dignity and social justice.