The International Labour Organization (ILO) will release new global and regional estimates on domestic work, informality and working conditions, marking the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189).
The new estimates examine global and regional trends in domestic employment and informality, as well as changes in wages, working hours and social protection. They also explore differences between women and men and the challenges of ensuring decent work for domestic workers worldwide.
A short presentation of the findings will take place during the regular UN press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
The key findings and statistics of the last published by the labour organization showed that there were 75.6 million domestic workers aged 15 and older worldwide
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The report indicated that approximately 81% to 81.2% of domestic workers were employed informally due to legal exclusions and enforcement gaps, and that they were predominantly women and included a significant number of international migrant workers.
When analysed on regional basis, the ILO reported that in Africa, an estimated 9.6 million people work in domestic employment. In Latin America and the Caribbean, around 13.5 million domestic workers (90% women) face high levels of informality and limited social security coverage.
The ILO has announced new global and regional estimates marking the 15th anniversary of Convention No. 189, set for official release on October 27, 2026
The ILO Domestic Workers Convention, No. 189, which was adopted on June 16, 2011, establishes global standards for fair remuneration, rest periods, and social protection, though translation into national law and practice remains slow.
