The Problem with the “Right to Change Employer” for Domestic Workers

The Illusion of Freedom: Why Domestic Workers’ Right to Change Employers Falls Short

Domestic workers can technically change employers, but the 6-month non-renewable ODW visa keeps them trapped in a system that enables abuse. True protection requires both the right to change jobs and the ability to maintain legal status.

"I thought I had the right to leave my employer if things became unbearable, but I quickly realized that freedom was only on paper. My Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa was valid for just six months and could not be renewed. When I left, I had nowhere to go legally and felt trapped all over again. The system doesn’t tie me to my employer—it ties me to a visa that allows abuse to continue. True freedom means I should be able to leave an abusive employer without losing my right to work and live safely." - Mary

The Problem with the “Right to Change Employer” for Domestic Workers

Domestic workers are often told that they have the right to change employers if they face unfair treatment or abusive conditions. On paper, this seems like an important protection. However, in practice, this right is severely limited by the structure of the 6-month Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa. Since the ODW visa is non-renewable, workers who leave an employer within this short period may find themselves without legal status, effectively preventing them from continuing to work in the country.

This creates a critical problem: while domestic workers are not technically tied to a single employer, they remain bound to a visa system that favors employers and enables exploitation. The visa system, rather than the law, dictates the terms of their employment, leaving workers vulnerable. In other words, the “freedom” to change employers is largely symbolic because it does not come with the ability to maintain legal employment beyond the initial six months.

As a result, this limited right does not provide real protection against abuse. Domestic workers can theoretically escape a bad employer, but the structure of the visa itself restricts their ability to live and work safely. For true freedom and security, reforms must allow domestic workers not only to change employers but also to extend or renew their visas, ensuring that their legal status is not contingent on the very system that makes them vulnerable.

Stand With Domestic Workers

Domestic workers deserve real freedom and protection from abuse. Support the campaign of The Voice of Domestic Workers to reform the ODW visa system, ensure the right to change employers, and secure legal status for all workers. Speak up, share their stories, and help end exploitation today.

Take action now — their freedom depends on us.

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