ILO Urges the Inclusion of Domestic Workers in Care Policies

Domestic workers undertake a wide array of tasks, from housekeeping to caring for children and the elderly. As life expectancy rises and populations grow, the demand for their services is expected to surge. However, they often lack access to social protection and labor rights, due to being underrepresented in the legal frameworks. In its recent policy brief, the International Labour Organization (ILO) advocates for the inclusion of domestic workers in care policies to safeguard their rights in the workplace.

Increasing Demand for Services

According to the ILO, there is an increasing need for care workers due to the increasing and ageing of the population. In 2015, 1.9 billion children and seniors needed care. This demand is projected to grow even more by 2030 to 2.3 billion individuals. With proper investment and guarantee of rights, this sector is projected to create millions of job opportunities in the future.

In addition to cleaning and other household tasks, domestic workers also offer care services to children or elderly family members. Moreover, with over 75% of the world’s care workers being women, upholding their rights and protection becomes an important part of  women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Domestic Workers in Care Policies

The ILO policy brief titled ‘The case for including domestic workers in care policies and ensuring their rights at work’ further acknowledges their role in care provision and highlights how they fill gaps in care services. It addresses the reality of how they face various challenges, such as lack of legal recognition, inadequate wages, and gender-based violence.

The brief then offers several recommendations to guarantee the rights and protection of domestic workers:

• Acknowledge domestic workers as essential members of the care workforce within national care policies. This involves clearly identifying them, measuring their contribution to the care economy, and raising awareness about their crucial role in providing care.
• Guarantee their labor rights and protection by endorsing Convention No. 189 as a cornerstone for national care policies or expanding labor laws.
• Incorporate them into care policies by offering incentives and subsidies for care services, along with access to skill training linked to formal job opportunities.
• Make sure that domestic workers and employers have a voice and representation in discussions and decision-making at national, regional, and sectoral levels regarding care systems and policies for decent work.

Acknowledging the valuable contributions of care workers and addressing their challenges is crucial for ensuring care service supply, workers protection, and gender equality. The push to include domestic workers in care policies highlights the need to safeguard their rights and offer them social and labor protections.

Collaborative efforts by governments, businesses, and civil society will be needed to fully achieve the decent work and employment of all domestic and care workers. Still, by adopting these suggestions, nations can begin to establish a fairer and more inclusive care system accessible to all.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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