Africa records 4.2 million increase in domestic workers since 2019 – ILO

Africa recorded an increase of 4.2 million domestic workers between 2019 and 2025, the largest rise among the world's regions, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

However, 93.3% of domestic workers on the continent remain in informal employment, often without effective labour and social protection, the organisation has warned.

The findings are contained in the ILO's report, The State of Domestic Work in 2025: 15 Years After Convention No. 189, which examines developments in the sector since the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention in 2011.

The report indicates that the growth in Africa's domestic workforce has occurred alongside persistent challenges in securing formal employment and adequate protection for workers.

Globally, an estimated 80 million people aged 15 and above work as domestic workers, up from 75.6 million in 2019.

Of this number, 66.5 million, representing 83.1% of the global domestic workforce, remain in informal employment.

Domestic workers provide essential household services, including cleaning, cooking and caring for children, older persons and people with disabilities. Yet many continue to face low wages and inadequate working conditions.

The ILO estimates that domestic workers worldwide earn an average of 53.3% of the monthly wages of other employees. Those in informal employment earn even less, at 48.7%.

The report also found that 35.2% of domestic workers globally work at least 49 hours per week, while 14.6% work 60 hours or more.

The ILO is calling for stronger implementation of its Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), and Recommendation No. 201 to expand social protection, improve wages, strengthen working-time safeguards and promote decent working conditions.

It also recommends accessible worker registration, effective minimum-wage policies, stronger labour-law enforcement and greater investment in decent care jobs.

The organisation says improving conditions for domestic workers will be increasingly important as demographic changes, migration and growing care needs reshape labour markets worldwide.