The ILO Governing Body has decided at its March 2008 Session to place the question of decent work for domestic workers on the agenda of the 2010 International Labour Conference. It aims to set standards through a new Convention and an accompanying Recommendation. Many of the problems faced by domestic workers, many of them migrant, can be attributed to the specificity and nature of their occupation and to inadequate attention on the key aspects of their situation in international law and national legislation.

According to the ILO, “reports and research have evidenced growing decent work deficits for domestic workers worldwide”. It is likely that their numbers “will continue to increase”. Conservative estimates put the current figure at more than a hundred million.