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By Patrick Biddah
The Deputy General Secretary of the Domestic Workers Union under the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Angela Akutteh, has urged the government to ratify ILO Convention 189 and fully operationalize the Domestic Workers Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2408), to protect the rights of domestic workers.
Speaking at a sensitisation seminar for domestic workers on Friday, November 21, 2025, in Accra, Madam Akutteh, expressed concern that despite persistent advocacy, government has not acted.
She stated that follow-ups at the Labour Office, engagements with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and various media campaigns have “fallen on deaf ears.”
Madam Akutteh, emphasized that domestic work is decent work and must be treated as such.
She explained that domestic workers are workers and not servants and therefore deserve annual leave, rest periods and respect.
She said the ongoing conversations and meetings are intended to ensure that domestic workers and the public recognize that their work is legitimate and deserving of full labour protections.
Ghana is yet to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), although the country enacted the Domestic Workers Regulations (L.I. 2408) in 2020.
The Convention requires member states to implement measures that promote and protect the human rights of domestic workers, including fundamental principles and rights at work such as freedom of association, the elimination of forced labour, the abolition of child labour, the elimination of discrimination in employment and the promotion of occupational safety and health.
Dr Akua Ofori-Asumadu, National Project Manager for the Trade for Decent Work initiative and Project Coordinator at the International Labour Organization, disclosed that Ghana’s labour laws are currently being revised with support from the ILO.
She noted that the revised labour laws will include protections for all categories of workers, including platform workers such as Uber drivers, while expanding social protection measures.
She further explained that the new laws will address working conditions for domestic workers with children and provide clearer guidelines on children’s work, ensuring that distinctions are made between permissible work and child labour.
According to her, the new framework specifies permissible work for ages 13 to 15, regulated work for ages 15 to 17 and transitional provisions for young people between 18 and 21.
She said this guidance has been incorporated into a Hazardous Activity Framework developed by the Child Labour Unit and other stakeholders under the Trade for Decent Work Project.
Mr Francis Bibuski (Esq.) of the Labour Department encouraged domestic workers to sign written contracts to guide their employment and advised them to familiarize themselves with the national wages and salaries structure to negotiate better terms.
He assured participants that the Labour Department would continue to push for fair treatment, equal rights and improved conditions of service.
He also urged the workers to use the seminar as an opportunity to unite.
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