ILO Forum Targets Formalizing Domestic Work Agreements
Employers of domestic workers should prepare for a transition toward mandatory written contracts and formal labor protections.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Employment
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The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently convened a forum in Senegal to address high rates of informal employment among Africa's 9.6 million domestic workers. With over 80% of these roles operating without formal agreements, the initiative highlights the ongoing challenges of securing legal and social protections for a sector that employs 15.8% of the continent's female workforce.
Why it matters
High levels of informal hiring create significant compliance risks and instability for businesses and households that rely on domestic labor. As international bodies push for standardized contracts and social protections, operators must prepare for a shift toward more formalized, regulated labor arrangements.
More than 80% of domestic workers operate informally, with data from Benin showing 98.4% informality in 2025. In the sector, which accounts for 15.8% of employed women in Africa, fewer than one in ten domestic workers in Kenya hold written contracts.
The players
International Labour Organization
A United Nations agency that sets international labor standards and advocates for worker protections globally.
The details
The sector's reliance on verbal agreements hinders access to social safety nets, such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund seen in South Africa since 2003. Through the TRADOM initiative, the ILO is working to map how these informal labor dynamics function, as most agreements lack the written stipulations necessary for legal enforcement. The current lack of formal documentation effectively keeps the majority of these workers outside the scope of standardized labor protections.
Timeline
2003: South Africa included domestic workers in its unemployment insurance fund.
June 16, 2011: The ILO domestic workers convention was adopted.
September 5, 2013: The ILO convention on domestic workers entered into force.
February 2025: The ILO launched the TRADOM initiative.
October 19, 2026: The subregional forum on domestic work opened in Senegal.
Market Landscape
This effort seeks to move labor practices beyond the high levels of informality that persist despite the ratification of the ILO Domestic Workers Convention by 40 countries. It marks a push to standardize employment terms in a market segment where informal agreements are the historical norm.
Operators currently relying on verbal labor agreements should conduct a review of their compliance posture regarding local labor laws and social insurance requirements. Anticipate a medium-term shift toward mandatory written contracts and increased state-led oversight of domestic hiring practices.
The takeaway
The move toward formalizing the domestic labor sector represents a significant shift that will likely increase administrative overhead for hiring entities. Employers should monitor the TRADOM initiative's findings to anticipate upcoming regulatory benchmarks for written contracts.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding global labor standards, visit Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecofin Agency.
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