Domestic workers and Working Time

Although the eight-hour working day is now an internationally accepted legal norm, domestic workers are most often exempted from this standard, and their working hours are among the longest and most unpredictable in the world.

Regulating working time is not only just but also wise. Long and unpredictable working hours impose a high cost on workers’ health and well-being, impacting their ability to provide quality service to their employers. ILO Convention 189  calls on Member States to ensure working time protections equal to those enjoyed by other workers. To help constituents implement these standards, the ILO has compiled best policies and practice to protect domestic workers from excessive working hours, insufficient rest and inadequate payment for actual hours worked.