COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Domestic Workers Gravely

By: Zilungile Mkhize

Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Guy Ryder, says domestic workers globally have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, losing more jobs when compared to other sectors.

Ryder says despite real progress being made in labour laws and social security provision in some countries, domestic workers lost their jobs in greater numbers or saw their hours of work reduced to a greater extent than other parts of the workforce.

Data by the United Nations labour unit shows that most European countries, as well as Canada and South Africa, have seen job shedding among domestic workers ranging from five to 20%.

Ryder says governments need to take action, because eight in 10 domestic workers are informally employed and therefore lack legal and welfare protection.

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