6 December 2016: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has found that three-quarters of all domestic workers are in informal arrangements, with the associated likelihood of poor working conditions. The UN agency anticipates a “care crisis” with high levels of support that will be needed as populations age and more women join the formal workforce.

The ILO report, ‘Formalizing Domestic Work,’ estimates there are around 67 million domestic workers in the world, of whom 50 million are employed informally. The report calls for incentives to help reduce informal arrangements in the domestic work sector, noting their impact on women, who may not be aware of their rights.

ILO suggests that a mix of approaches, including deterrence, detection and sanctions, on the one hand, and creating an enabling environment, on the other, can be effective.

The report provides examples of formalization policies, such as standard contracts, providing social insurance to domestic workers, and running compliance campaigns to raise awareness of workers’ rights and responsibilities. It suggests that a mix of approaches, including deterrence, detection and sanctions, on the one hand, and creating an enabling environment, on the other, can be effective. Deterrence approaches may include actions such as labor inspections and complaints mechanisms, whereas enabling approaches could include reducing the cost of formalization, and simplifying procedures.

Philippe Marcadent, ILO, highlighted the contribution that such efforts would make towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 with regard to decent work, and called for no worker to be left behind. [ILO Press Release] [Publication: Formalizing Domestic Work]