Policy resources
Domestic workers and Labour inspections and compliance
4 June 2025
6 o'clock in the morning, domestic worker sweeping the street in front of a private property in the Golf Links area, Delhi.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201 establish minimum labour standards for domestic workers and highlight the importance of measures to ensure compliance with laws and regulations protecting domestic workers. The functions of labour inspection are multifaceted, serving as an entry point for the enforcement of labour law, monitoring compliance, identifying gaps and bringing issues to the attention of the appropriate institutions.
The dispersion of the workforce and the fact that domestic work is performed behind closed doors poses particular challenges to enforcing compliance. The ILO’s work has focused on documenting best practices in ensuring compliance, including through labour inspections.