International Domestic Workers’ Day

Today, on International Domestic Workers Day, we mark fourteen years since the adoption of the landmark ILO Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers, a global commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of those who perform paid work in private homes. It affirmed what should be obvious: domestic workers are workers, and they deserve the same protections, wages and respect afforded to any other occupation. Yet, even today, this simple truth is too often ignored.

Recognizing domestic workers’ rights is not a gesture of charity. It is an essential, practical, forward-looking policy choice. Governments can legislate comprehensive protections. Trade unions can organize domestic workers and amplify their voices. Employers can adopt practices to ensure decent working conditions and fair treatment. And all of us, as members of society, can shift how we perceive domestic work, not as invisible, informal help, but as a vital component of our economy and our resilience.

We may not be able to prevent every crisis. But we can strengthen our societies' ability to respond and recover. Protecting domestic workers and recognizing the vital role they play must be part of that strategy.

Let us build a future where domestic workers are no longer overlooked in our homes, laws, or disaster plans. Let us finally treat their work as what it truly is: essential.