Domestic Workers

There are 53 to 100 million domestic workers. The vast majority are women, and many are migrants and children. They cook, clean and provide care for people in their homes.

For decades domestic work was systematically excluded from labour legislation, since it was not recognised as work. As a result, these workers face multiple forms of exploitation including low pay or non-payment of wages, extreme working hours, abuse and even sexual violence and torture. Millions are enslaved in forced and child labour.

With the historic adoption of ILO Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 on 16 June 2011, domestic workers saw for the first time in history their work recognised as work.

Countries that have ratified C189
Countries that have adopted labour reforms and policies since the adoption of C189