News and articles on domestic work

  1. BBC Business Edition

    The ILO calls for tough legal protection for domestic workers

    09 January 2013

    Only 10% of the world's 53 million domestic workers enjoy adequate labour rights. Over half of them have no legal limit on their working hours and do not receive a minimum wage. In addition, 45% of domestic workers worldwide are not entitled to rest periods. In a live interview on the BBC's "Business Edition", ILO's Martin Oelz, explained how domestic workers are more vulnerable to exploitation as their jobs are often not even considered as work and their workplaces are households beyond the usual reach of labour inspection systems. Oelz stressed that legal protection is key to achieve decent and better conditions for domestic workers.

  2. Video interview

    Domestic workers still experience poor legal protection, the ILO warns

    09 January 2013

    ILO's Martin Oelz, Legal Specialist on Working Conditions, presents the key findings of a new ILO report - Domestic workers across the world - which follows the adoption, in June 2011, of the ILO Convention and Recommendation on domestic work.

  3. Working conditions

    Longest, most unpredictable hours – the plight of the domestic worker

    09 January 2013

    Despite legislation limiting working time in most countries, domestic workers are amongst the least protected and suffer health issues as a result.

  4. New survey

    More than 52 million domestic workers worldwide

    09 January 2013

    Millions of domestic workers around the world remain excluded from protection enjoyed by other workers, says a new ILO report.

  5. Media advisory

    ILO to launch first global report on domestic work

    04 January 2013

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) is to launch its new report on domestic workers around the world.

  6. Migrant workers

    Fighting forced labour with education

    04 January 2013

    Nepalese women migrating as domestic workers often risk falling prey to human trafficking. A little knowledge can go a long way towards reducing their vulnerability.

  7. News

    ILO, European Commission, OHCHR, UNWOMEN and KSBSI sign agreement on global action programme on migrant domestic workers

    18 December 2012

    The European Commission and the ILO in partnership with OHCHR, UNWOMEN and the Indonesian Trade Union KSBSI signed an agreement on implementing a “Global Action programme on migrant domestic workers and their families”. The implementation of this three-year programme, with € 3.5 million EU funding, will start on 1 February 2013.