Publications on domestic work

  1. Report

    Malaysia: Review of admission and recruitment practices of Indonesian workers in the plantation and domestic work sectors and related recommendations

    02 July 2020

    Indonesian workers have provided the bulk of the workforce for the plantation and the domestic work sectors in Malaysia, thereby making a significant contribution to the Malaysian economy over the years. This study on the admission and recruitment procedures and practices for Indonesian workers in the two sectors notes that there have been positive legal and regulatory developments on labour migration in Malaysia and Indonesia. It also highlights continuing challenges for migration governance and worker protection. In response, the study makes several recommendations to governments of both Malaysia and Indonesia.

  2. ILO/UN Women

    Protecting the rights of domestic workers in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

    16 June 2020

    This note explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic workers in Malaysia. It highlights the requirements of migrant domestic workers in light of the existing and emerging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and makes recommendations to protect the rights of domestic workers in Malaysia.

  3. Factsheet

    Impact of the COVID-19 crisis on loss of jobs and hours among domestic workers

    15 June 2020

    The ILO estimates that, in the early stages of the pandemic, on 15 March 2020, 49.3% of domestic workers were significantly impacted. This figure peaked at 73.7% on 15 May, before reducing to 72.3% on 4 June.

  4. Factsheet

    Beyond contagion or starvation: Giving domestic workers another way forward

    05 May 2020

    In the wake of COVID-19, governments around the world have called on people to take one most important action: to stay home. But for many workers, staying home has meant losing their jobs, or worse still, losing their livelihoods.

  5. Publication

    COVID-19 and domestic work in Argentina - Executive Summary

    20 April 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis is having a strong impact on the Argentine labor market. Although the economic, labor and social consequences are generalized, there are a number of groups of workers who are particularly affected. Domestic workers are in the first line of response and play an essential role. This report highlights the pandemic's effects on domestic work in Argentina and describes why the current crisis places domestic workers in a highly vulnerable situation. In addition, it details the measures implemented in Argentina that directly affect the sector and analyzes to what extent they are in line with the recommendations to provide a comprehensive response to domestic workers.

  6. Technical Report

    COVID-19 and domestic work in Argentina

    20 April 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis is having a strong impact on the Argentine labor market. Although the economic, labor and social consequences are generalized, there are a number of groups of workers who are particularly affected. Domestic workers are in the first line of response and play an essential role. This report highlights the pandemic's effects on domestic work in Argentina and describes why the current crisis places domestic workers in a highly vulnerable situation. In addition, it details the measures implemented in Argentina that directly affect the sector and analyzes to what extent they are in line with the recommendations to provide a comprehensive response to domestic workers.

  7. Publication

    Impact of COVID-19 on migrant workers in Lebanon and what employers can do about it

    14 April 2020

    This brief provides a summary of the particular vulnerability of migrant workers during the COVID-19 health emergency, with a focus on migrant domestic workers, who in Lebanon are mainly employed inside people’s homes. It recommends practical actions in line with the principles of integrity, gender equality and respect for diversity, all of which contribute to peace, social justice and stability in societies.

  8. TRIANGLE in ASEAN

    Recruitment fees and related costs: What migrant workers from Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar pay to work in Thailand

    01 April 2020

    This report presents the findings of a survey on recruitment fees and related costs paid by migrant workers from Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar to work in Thailand.

  9. TRIANGLE in ASEAN

    The future of work and migration: 12th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) thematic background paper

    01 January 2020

    This paper was prepared to inform and guide the discussions on “Future of Work and Migration” at the 12th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) held from 25 to 26 September 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. The AFML is a tripartite meeting that brings together governments, employers’ organizations, and workers’ organizations, alongside civil society organizations, to discuss migration governance issues across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, and aims to promote and protect migrant workers’ rights.

  10. TRIANGLE in ASEAN

    The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) Background information booklet (4th edition)

    01 January 2020

    The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) is a regional tripartite platform to discuss issues faced by women and men migrant workers from and within ASEAN. The ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of Migrant Workers (Cebu Declaration) was adopted by the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) in 2007 in Cebu, the Philippines. The Cebu Declaration shows the AMS’ commitment to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers in the region. In order to advance the principles of the Cebu Declaration, the AFML was established to provide an open platform for governments, employers, workers, and civil society organizations to discuss complex and regional labour migration issues. Twelve AFMLs have been held to date. This publication contains information on the establishment of the AFML, past themes, and the Recommendations adopted at the 3rd–12th AFMLs, showing progress being made toward the implementation of the Cebu Declaration. This background information booklet provides an overview of the AFML process, and is a product of the International Labour Organization (ILO) TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, a partnership between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Global Affairs Canada, and the ILO.