Domestic workers in the household often organize to form a line of defense against crime. Anna Nkobele, shown here working in her employer's home in Johannesburg, belongs to a community organization called Domestic Watch, which meets monthly to teach domestic workers to be aware and safe.
The almost 76 million domestic workers around the world represent 2. They provide essential services that keep households working, yet most work in vulnerable situations with deep-rooted layers of violence and discrimination based on class, race, ethnicity or gender.
Despite contributing to society, the economy and providing essential services, they are often excluded from legal and social protections. In several countries, households are not recognized as workplaces, and domestic workers are not recognized as workers.
Demand for domestic services is growing worldwide due to more women working outside the home, the aging of populations and the increasing need for long-term care and the loss of extended family support. This version is tailored to Africa and has focused on our activities in this region. Yolanda Villanueva, a domestic worker, sings lullabies to a baby. Taking care of children is her passion and she provides this service in several households. In Peru, many domestic workers provide care services for households, without which women could not work.
Domestic workers are identified in a specific category or categories in labour force surveys. However, in practice, those who work for multiple households or as child care or personal care workers, or are hired by or through service agencies, are often not captured as domestic workers. This definition is an important step in improving the measurement of domestic workers.
