ILO Report Finds 66 Million Domestic Workers Lack Protections

The International Labour Organization released a statistical brief on October 27, 2026, revealing that 83.1% of the global domestic workforce—approximately 66.5 million people—work informally without effective labor or social protections. The global population of domestic workers aged 15 and over grew to 80 million, up from 75.6 million in 2019, with the largest increase occurring in Africa.

The report, titled 'The state of domestic work in 2025: 15 years after Convention No. 189', highlights a widening relative wage gap. Domestic workers now earn an average of 53.3% of the monthly wages of other employees, down from 56.4% in 2019. This disparity is most severe for women, who comprise 77.2% of the workforce and earn significantly less than their male counterparts. In India, for example, nominal wages for domestic workers rose, but at a much slower rate than in other sectors.

Regional disparities remain stark, with informal employment described as nearly universal in the Arab States and affecting 93.3% of workers in Africa. While 40 countries have ratified Convention No. 189 to establish decent work standards, the organization urged governments in Asia and the Arab States to increase ratifications. ILO officials emphasized that domestic workers are more than twice as likely as other employees to lack social protections, leaving them vulnerable to extreme working hours and low pay.