Experts call for regulation, licensing of domestic workers

By Ebere Agozie/Anita Uzoagba

Experts have called for urgent formalisation and regulation of domestic work in Nigeria, stressing that domestic workers remain largely invisible, unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation.

They made this know at the conclusion of the five-day 7th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference organized by the Rule of Law Development Foundation (ROLDF) on Friday in Abuja.

Mrs Ozioma Izuora, Lecturer, Baze University, Abuja said that domestic workers are the people you see every day. They have always been part of our households, yet they have remained invisible and unprotected.

According to her, the Igbo apprenticeship scheme is a positive institutional pathway for training and wealth creation.

“It is unfortunate that the government has not paid enough attention to formalising or learning from this model.

Izuora said that cases of exploitation, underpayment, physical abuse and sexual violence are still widespread, despite protections under the Child Rights Act.

“Stories abound of children being beaten, burned, denied food or left to sleep outside.

“Some agents run rackets where they rotate young girls between households, and many of these children have no contracts, no voice and no access to their own wages”.

She added that some domestic workers, due to lack of education and guidance, also violate trust by abandoning work without notice or engaging in criminal activity.

She underscored the need for government monitoring, licencing of private agencies, and the establishment of a dispute-resolution mechanism.

She added that Nigeria’s adoption of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 places it under obligation to ensure decent working conditions for millions of domestic workers who have long been marginalised.

“If domestic work is to be formalised, then government must monitor implementation closely”, she said.

Mr Hygenus Ibaga, a Legal Practitioner, said that domestic work remains one of the most undervalued and least regulated sectors in Nigeria despite its vital role in supporting households and the wider economy.

According to him, domestic work in Nigeria has historically been treated as a private or charitable arrangement rather than a formal job.

“We often say, I’m helping that small boy or girl but what we want now is a legal framework that recognises the cleaner or caregiver as a staff entitled to rights and protection.

He noted that while the Constitution protects rights such as dignity, liberty and freedom from discrimination, the absence of a dedicated law leaves domestic workers vulnerable.

He added that existing laws such as the Child Rights Act, the Penal Codes and criminal laws offer some protection, but enforcement remains weak.

Ibaga noted that Nigeria has yet to ratify ILO Convention 189, which guarantees rights to fair remuneration, working hours, rest periods and social security.

He noted that two earlier Senate bills have been consolidated into the Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill, which the Senate passed on Nov. 12, 2025 and the House of Representatives is yet to pass the bill.

He further urged the National Assembly to strengthen implementation capacity, speed up passage of the bill and create mechanisms that domestic workers can actually access.

For her part, Mrs Linda Raji, project Officer, ROLDF, said that weak institutions and entrenched social norms are the biggest obstacles to enforcing domestic workers’ rights in Nigeria.

According to her, informality remains the major barrier to enforcement, as recruitment of domestic workers often happens secretly through unlicensed agents without any written contract.

“I once overheard someone say, I need a girl, 16 years old, send her here, within two days, the girl arrived. You wonder if the parents even know where their child is.

She noted that domestic workers are predominantly women and girls, many of them underage, poorly educated and at constant risk of retaliation if they report abuse.

She added that another challenge was the long-standing cultural belief that domestic work was not a real work and therefore undeserving of dignity or rights.

She expressed concern that some recruitment agents may continue to exploit the system if licencing and oversight remain weak.

“Many employers genuinely do not know their obligations, so sensitisation is key”.

She stressed the need for safe reporting channels, such as hotlines and anonymous systems, to protect workers who fear losing their jobs.

She called for nationwide awareness campaigns by the National Orientation Agency and civil society groups, stressing that domestic work should not involve children below 16.

Dr. Balogun Makanjuola, said that Nigeria’s failure to use data-driven decision-making, alongside widespread poverty and unemployment, remains a major obstacle to effectively protecting domestic workers in the country.

According to him, the supply of cheap labour, especially girls and young people, continues to rise due to poverty, out-of-school rates, and lack of opportunities.

He added that domestic workers accept low pay because employers know they have no bargaining power.

“The law of supply applies here. When workers are in excess, the price of labour falls and that is why people pay N20,000 or N30,000, even my personal driver, a graduate, earns N30,000, and there are ten others waiting to take the job,” he said.

He noted that applying formalised standards without considering economic realities could create friction.

He emphasised that unemployment, poverty, poor governance and regulatory capture are major structural barriers that may limit the effectiveness of the proposed domestic worker legislation.

“If we do not address poverty, bad governance and corruption, the legislation will struggle. Domestic workers need protection, but implementation must be grounded in Nigeria’s socioeconomic realities,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Massoud Oredola, said that there should be greater protection and fair treatment of domestic workers in Nigeria, drawing on Islamic teachings that highlight leadership, duty, and compassion within households.

“Domestic workers should not be overburdened with work and additional tasks should either come with assistance or fair compensation, similar to overtime and holiday pay standards globally.

“The law alone is insufficient to guarantee justice, and that kindness and service to others remain fundamental principles, our prime purpose in this life is to help others. If you cannot help, at least don’t hurt, exploit or add to their misery.

“Service and kindness to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth, we are all tenants; God Almighty is our landlord,” he said.