Female Domestic Workers Agitate for Stronger Voice, Minimum Wage

By Dayo Emmanuel

Labour leaders, civil society advocates and domestic workers have intensified calls for the unionisation of domestic workers in Nigeria, insisting that the country can no longer ignore the exploitation, abuse and poor welfare conditions faced by millions of workers in the informal sector.

The call was made at an advocacy meeting held at the Nnimmo Bassey Hall, located within the office of Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) in Lagos, where domestic workers, labour leaders and activists gathered to push for the creation of a domestic workers’ union in Nigeria.

Participants at the event argued that domestic workers in Nigeria deserve the same labour protections, minimum wage benefits and organisational rights enjoyed by workers in other African countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, where domestic workers’ unions already exist.

Speaking at the event, founder of CEE-HOPE, Betty Abah, said the advocacy for unionisation became necessary after years of encountering cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation involving domestic workers, particularly young girls forced into domestic labour.

According to her, domestic workers remain among the most vulnerable categories of workers in Nigeria because many operate in private homes where abuses are hidden from public scrutiny.

“We started this project because for years we have been trying to see how to start a union for domestic workers,” Abah said.

She explained that many domestic workers endure long hours of labour, physical abuse, denial of education and poor welfare conditions without any organised structure to defend their rights.

Using the story of Rose, a former domestic worker, Abah painted a grim picture of the realities many child domestic workers face across the country.

“She went through a lot. Her education was disrupted because she moved from one home to another. Yet, despite everything, she remained strong,” she stated.

Abah explained that Rose lost her father at an early age and was sent to different homes to work because of the difficult financial condition of her family. According to her, the experience affected Rose’s education and emotional wellbeing.

“The painful thing is that these are children who deserve care and protection, but instead many of them are treated harshly and denied opportunities,” she stated further.

The activist also recounted disturbing cases handled by her organisation involving domestic workers who allegedly lost their lives after severe abuse.

Recalling one of the incidents, Abah described the case of a teenage domestic worker who reportedly died after prolonged maltreatment during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“This is somebody’s child,” she said emotionally. “I cannot imagine how people treat another person’s child with such cruelty while caring lovingly for their own children.”

She blamed the situation on weak labour protection systems, poor enforcement of laws and the absence of structures that can help vulnerable workers seek justice.

“There is so much wickedness because we do not have a working system that truly protects vulnerable people,” Abah lamented.

According to her, many domestic workers remain silent because they fear losing their jobs or facing intimidation from influential employers.

“The absence of a formal union has made it difficult for workers to collectively demand better conditions,” she said.

Abah revealed that CEE-HOPE had organised several meetings in Lagos and Abuja involving domestic workers, labour leaders, journalists and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for building a domestic workers’ union in Nigeria.

“What we want is to ensure domestic workers in Nigeria know their rights and have a platform to protect themselves,” she affirmed.

She stressed that unionisation would help domestic workers negotiate fair wages, challenge abuse and access legal and social protection.

Abah also emphasised the need to remove children from domestic labour and ensure access to education.

“Education changes lives. Even basic education gives children confidence and opportunities,” she said, noting that her organisation had supported hundreds of vulnerable children with education and vocational training.

One of the emotional moments at the gathering came when Rose, a former domestic worker, shared her experiences of abuse and hardship while working in different homes in Lagos.

According to Rose, she was about six years old when she was handed over to another family in search of a better life.

“The experience was terrible,” she recalled.

She narrated how she woke up before dawn daily to cook, clean, fetch water and care for children despite her young age.

Rose said mistakes often resulted in severe punishment, while illnesses and injuries she suffered during domestic work were mostly ignored.

“There were times I could not go to school because of housework or punishment,” she said.

She also recounted how one of her relatives attempted to rescue her after noticing the condition she was living in.

Despite years of hardship, Rose said support from some teachers and relatives eventually helped her survive the difficult experiences.

Her testimony drew sympathy from participants, many of whom said her story reflected the experiences of countless domestic workers hidden behind closed doors across Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, National President of the Electrical Union Association of Nigeria, Rufus Olusesan, called for the immediate unionisation of domestic workers, insisting that collective action remains the strongest protection for workers.

“We must understand who domestic workers are. They are people engaged to perform household tasks in homes, yet many of them remain invisible in society,” he said.

Olusesan who has spent four decades in active unionism in Nigeria, noted that domestic workers constitute a significant part of Nigeria’s informal workforce but remain excluded from mainstream labour structures.

“In developed countries, there are laws and guidelines protecting domestic workers, but here many of them are isolated and unable to speak out,” he stated.

The labour leader explained that unionisation had helped many informal workers in Nigeria secure better recognition and welfare.

He cited the example of private security guards and waste workers who now have recognised unions after years of mobilisation.

“Years ago, waste workers had no voice, but today they have their own union operating in many states of the federation. That shows unionisation is possible,” he said.

Olusesan argued that many employers exploit domestic workers because they lack collective bargaining power.

“In Nigeria, it is often the poor struggling against the rich. Nobody will fight for you unless you stand up and fight for yourselves,” he said.

Using the traditional broom as an illustration, he stressed the importance of unity among workers.

“If you remove one stick from a broom, it cannot sweep. But when the sticks are together, they become strong and useful. That is the meaning of unionism,” he added.

He urged domestic workers to organise themselves into a national body capable of defending their rights and negotiating for better wages and welfare.

Also lending his voice to the campaign, Chairman of the National Union of Nigerian Welders, Dare Adeyemo, described unionism as a powerful tool for workers’ empowerment.

“There are many benefits in unionism,” he said. “Belonging to a union has given me the exposure I have today and no worker in Nigeria should be denied the opportunity to belong to a union that can fight for their cause.”

Adeyemo assured participants that the organisers were committed to protecting the interests of domestic workers.

“It is your right to belong to a union to fight for you when you are cheated on your job. That is what unionism stands for,” he told the gathering.

President of the Nigerian Slum Dweller Association, Bimbo Esther Osobe, also encouraged domestic workers to speak up whenever they experience abuse or exploitation.

Participants at the meeting agreed that domestic workers in Nigeria deserve dignity, fair wages, legal protection and recognition as legitimate workers contributing significantly to households and the economy.

They also stressed the need for stronger labour laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation and abuse.

For many at the gathering, the campaign for unionisation is no longer just about labour rights, but about restoring dignity and humanity to a group of workers often ignored in society.