ILO Convention 189 and Domestic Worker Rights Why Legal Protection Is Urgent By Rolyn Muyco

To truly recognize domestic work as dignified and essential labor, we must begin by facing a reality that has been ignored for far too long, the people who care for our homes, our children, and our loved ones are still not fully recognized as workers in the eyes of the law.

Across many countries, domestic workers continue to fall through the gaps, unprotected, unseen, and undervalued. While their work is deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life, the systems meant to protect workers often fail to include them. This is why real change must begin with governments taking responsibility to close these legal gaps and extend full labor and social protections to domestic workers.

One of the most important steps is the ratification and enforcement of ILO Convention 189. This convention is more than just a policy, it is a global recognition that domestic work is real work. It sets standards that ensure domestic workers are treated with fairness, given proper wages, and protected from exploitation. But recognition on paper is not enough. These protections must be implemented in real life, where domestic workers continue to face challenges behind closed doors.

Even today, domestic work is still not fully recognized. This reality affects many, but especially women and migrant workers who carry the weight of both economic need and vulnerability. Too often, they are excluded from labor laws, denied minimum wage protections, and left without the support systems that other workers rely on. Their contributions are essential, yet their rights remain limited. This is why policy change is urgent.

Domestic workers must be given access to legal support. Governments must not only ratify ILO Convention 189, but actively implement it, ensuring that domestic workers are no longer left in situations where they are vulnerable to abuse or exploitation. Recognition must come with protection.

Fair wages must also be guaranteed. Domestic workers deserve to be paid according to minimum wage laws, with proper compensation for overtime. Their work is not less demanding, and it should not be treated as less valuable. As migrant domestic workers, many of us leave our homes and families behind to contribute to communities far from our own. We work quietly, often unseen, yet we are the backbone that keeps households running.

And still, we are not always recognized as real workers. For migrant domestic workers, the challenges go even deeper. Visa systems can create dangerous dependencies, where a worker’s legal status is tied to a single employer. This opens the door to exploitation, fear, and even conditions that resemble modern slavery. There must be stronger protections, visa systems that allow workers to leave abusive situations without risking everything they have built.

Governments must also begin to see domestic work for what it truly is, skilled, essential care work. It is not simply “help.” It requires trust, responsibility, and emotional labor. And because this work takes place inside private homes, where abuse can remain hidden, there must be stronger systems of accountability. Inspections, legal action, and accessible reporting systems are necessary to ensure that no worker is left unprotected simply because of where they work.

These changes are not optional, they are necessary. Because domestic workers are not just part of the workforce, they are part of the foundation of our societies. During times of crisis, whether economic instability or global challenges, domestic workers continue to show up. They continue to care, to support, to hold things together. And yet, they remain among the most unseen and undervalued. Recognizing their labor is not only a matter of justice, it is essential for building resilient and compassionate societies.

I am reminded of this in moments where our voices are finally given space to be heard. On March 17, 2026, I had the opportunity to attend the Lived Experience Advisory Panel Summit alongside my Director, Marissa Begonia, and 13 representatives from different organizations across the UK. This summit, led by Eleanor Lyons, the Anti-Trafficking Commissioner, in cooperation with the Human Trafficking Foundation, brought together voices with lived experience, voices that are too often overlooked. Being in that space was powerful.

It was a reminder that our experiences matter. That our stories carry weight. That change is possible when those who have lived through these realities are given the chance to speak.

But one summit, one conversation, is not enough. The fight for recognition, protection, and dignity continues.

Domestic workers are not invisible. We are not powerless. We are workers. We are caregivers. We are contributors to society. And we deserve to be seen, to be protected, and to be valued, not just in words, but in action. Because recognizing domestic work as dignified and essential is not just about changing policies. It is about changing lives.

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