Op-ed: International Domestic Workers Day Reminds Us: Their Rights Matter!

We mark the 14th anniversary of the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), a landmark and the first international labour standard that recognizes domestic work as real work and calls for full labour and social protections. Yet, despite this progress, millions of domestic workers worldwide continue to face precarious conditions, lacking the dignity, rights and protections they deserve.

In Armenia, the Labour Force Survey shows a 55 per cent rise in domestic workers in the non-agricultural sector in 2022—the highest since 2016—driven by increased female labour force participation, migration and refugees.

Globally, over 75 million domestic workers make an invaluable contribution to our societies, supporting families, workplaces and economies. The vast majority of them—76.2 per cent—are women, whose work remains essential yet often undervalued and unprotected. Most domestic workers operate in the informal economy, often working without written contracts or clear terms of employment. Their work is often shaped by informal networks, exposing them to exploitation and poor working conditions. An increasing number of countries are facing a ‘care crisis’ due to large unmet care needs and ageing populations. The care economy itself, which encompasses domestic work, continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. It is predicted that 2.3 billion people will need care services by 2030, with many of these services provided in private households by domestic workers.

Today, domestic work is more important than ever. It is the hourly, daily, weekly care work that keeps our lives rolling forward, especially in times of crisis.

Yet, the persistent invisibility of domestic work remains a key barrier in securing rights and protections for domestic workers globally. At least 81 per cent of domestic workers remain in informal employment, which leaves them outside labour and social protection.

In times of crisis, whether driven by climate disasters, geopolitical instability, economic downturns, the rising cost-of-living crisis or growing inequalities, domestic workers remain among the most vulnerable, yet the least protected. While providing support to us in our crises, they are left to face theirs alone.

In Armenia, domestic workers also face vulnerabilities due to the insufficiency of specific legal protections ensuring decent working conditions, labour rights and social protection measures. Enhancing legal protections and expanding social security measures for domestic workers and other informal workers are crucial steps toward safeguarding their rights, dignity and financial stability in Armenia.

There is no doubt that caregiving and domestic work are the essence of our shared humanity. They are child-rearing and teaching, healthcare workers tending to those in need, gardeners cultivating, communities seeking the experiences of and supporting the elderly, and domestic workers mending, cooking and cleaning. It is how we have been able to thrive, and it is how we will survive this moment.

Care might be at the heart of our societies, yet the care agenda and domestic work have long been overlooked in our economic and social policies. As a result, many care workers, especially domestic workers, find themselves in precarious roles, working for low wages, lacking basic labour and social protection and lacking the right to organise and bargain collectively. 

Call to Action

By ensuring that domestic work must be decent work, we can help keep our societies safe and supported, including in times of crisis.

Governments can legislate to require that domestic workers receive minimum wage and benefit from both labour and social protection. Ratifying Convention No. 189 is also a crucial step for governments to ensure decent work, social protection, right to organise and dignity for those who care. Trade unions can organize domestic workers to demand increased legal protection. Employers can form organizations to help protect their critical interest in domestic work by ensuring that fair wages are paid, and decent work is provided. Societies can reconceptualize care and domestic work as an essential economic driver, and not only as a private matter inside homes.

The ILO and UN WOMEN stand ready to support Armenia in improving conditions for domestic workers, including alignment of the national legislation with ILO standards (ILO Convention No. 189) and recognizing domestic work as formal employment with full labour and social protections. This includes promoting written contracts, simplifying tax procedures, expanding access to social benefits, ensuring occupational health and safety, and strengthening monitoring and enforcement. Raising awareness, supporting unionization and providing skills training will empower workers and improve service quality. A comprehensive, rights-based approach will not only protect a growing and predominantly female workforce but also elevate the value and dignity of domestic work in Armenia.

Protecting domestic workers is not an act of charity; it is a strategic investment in a more just and sustainable future. The path to decent work for domestic workers is long, but it begins with action.

Let us stand together and join our efforts in recognizing the immense value domestic work brings to our societies, our lives and the global economy – and commit to ensuring dignity, rights and protections for those who care for us all.

Kaori Ishikawa is the UN Women Country Representative in Georgia and Liaison for the South Caucasus

Mikhail Pouchkin is the Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Decent Work Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia