By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
Experts have called for urgent policy reforms to safeguard domestic workers from exploitation, citing inadequate pay, excessive work hours, and various forms of abuse.
They emphasized the need for legislative action, labor protections, and economic empowerment initiatives to improve their working conditions.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion organized by Charis Healthcare & Community Support Initiative (CHARIS) in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) in Jos, researchers highlighted systemic labor violations affecting domestic workers.
They stressed the need to formally recognize domestic work as employment and enforce labor rights to prevent exploitation.
The discussion, themed “Unveiling the Shadows: A Critical Review of Multidimensional Challenges Faced by Women in Nigeria,” examined four research publications on the social, economic, psychological, and political effects of conflicts, crises, and labor conditions on women.
One of the studies, “Experiences and Conditions of Domestic Workers: The Role of Stakeholders and Strategies in Mitigating Domestic Work Abuses in the North-West Region, Nigeria,” was reviewed by Oluwajuwonlo Isaiah, who commended the research for exposing widespread labor exploitation.
“The study draws attention to the struggles of domestic workers, including low wages, long hours, and different types of abuse—physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual,” he said. “Many lack essential benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and overtime compensation.”
He noted that live-in domestic workers are particularly vulnerable, facing social isolation, mental health issues, and stress-related illnesses due to poor working conditions.
While acknowledging the study’s insights, he pointed out its limitations, including a narrow geographic focus, reliance on self-reported data, and the exclusion of migrant and male domestic workers. He called for broader research to assess existing labor laws and improve data collection methods.
“The study needs to cover a wider geographic area and a more diverse population. Further research should examine the psychological and health effects of domestic work and the role of stakeholders in enforcing labor protections,” he added.
Isaiah emphasized that recognizing domestic work as formal employment would extend labor rights to domestic workers, ensuring fair treatment and economic security.
Other studies reviewed at the discussion included
” The Impact of Farmers-Herders Crisis on The Quality of Life of Women & Girls in Internally Displaced Camps in North Central Nigeria,” “Effects of Bwari Conflict and Enugu Sit-at-Home on Women,” and “Nigeria After COVID-19: Subordinate Integration into the World Economy and Burgeoning Popular Discontent.”
Participants, including civil society groups, government agencies, academia, media, and youth organizations, examined policy gaps and strategies to address gendered labor vulnerabilities.
They called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, increased advocacy, and comprehensive labor reforms to integrate domestic workers into the formal economy and curb exploitation in Nigeria’s labor market.
