Domestic Workers Needed Better Protection – and They’re Finally Getting It

In the decade since the Switzerland-based International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted standards aimed at protecting domestic workers, 32 countries have improved their labor protection laws, including offering equal protections to all workers.

Among the changes brought to protection laws, there are minimum wages, rest days, paid holidays, written contracts, access to labour courts, and collective bargaining agreements. Workforces around the world organized themselves at a growing pace: consequently, the International Domestic Worker Federation now have half a million members.

Domestic workers, mainly women who are caregivers, cleaners, and cooks, have long been on their own. With the help of trade unions and non-governmental organizations, domestic workers have made significant progress in their fight for protection since 2010, when only 10% of domestic workers around the world had equal protection as other workers.