At the Crossroads of Class and Gender: Realizing Domestic Workers' Labour Rights (Research and Policy Brief 20)

Women domestic workers suffer a double injustice: they are discriminated against as women and their rights as workers are not recognized. With the SDGs, UN member states have committed to tackling both issues (Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 8 on decent work). UNRISD research on previous efforts to bring about policy change and legal reform in this complex area has identified some of the drivers of successful mobilization, as well as a range of constraints. This Brief presents recommendations based on the research that can help policy makers, women’s and labour rights advocates and funders to effectively support domestic workers’ labour rights.


UNRISD Research and Policy Briefs aim to improve the quality of development dialogue. They situate the Institute’s research within wider social development debates, synthesize its findings and draw out issues for consideration in decision-making processes. They provide this information in a concise format that should be of use to policy makers, scholars, activists, journalists and others.

This Research and Policy Brief was prepared by Paola Cagna and Joannah Caborn Wengler.