In pursuit of this objective, the ILO has unveiled a comprehensive strategy comprising five key steps designed to improve the working conditions and rights of domestic workers worldwide.

Domestic workers, who fulfill essential caregiving roles within private households, often endure challenging working conditions, making their contributions to society undervalued. A report published by the ILO in 2021 highlighted that 81 percent of domestic workers are informally employed, primarily due to gaps in legal coverage and implementation.

To address these issues, the ILO has developed a strategy aimed at empowering domestic workers and enhancing their quality of life. The strategy draws upon successful practices outlined in the report and presents practical solutions for implementation.

The Director of the Conditions of Work and Equality Department, Sukti Dasgupta, said, “We strongly believe that by following these steps, inspired by the good practices presented in the report, we can make significant progress so that decent work becomes a reality for domestic workers. Domestic workers have ensured our daily care needs. Now it is time for us to ensure they enjoy decent work.”

According to her, the strategy aims to provide practical solutions to empower and improve the lives of domestic workers worldwide.

ILO said the strategies were based on governments, employers and workers working together through phases, which include the process of involving estimating domestic worker numbers and informal employment share, analysing gaps in labour laws, and identifying drivers of informality.