*Naomi remains haunted by her time in South Africa, even five years after returning home. “You would think I would be over it by now, but I am still upset,” she says, recounting her ordeal as a domestic worker in Cape Town. Naomi arrived in South Africa in September 2013, full of hope. But her employer, a human rights lawyer with a UN agency, ensnared her with false promises. For nearly two years, Naomi laboured without pay under harsh conditions, only to later discover she was an illegal alien; her employer had neglected to secure a work permit.
“What do you do when the protector becomes the abuser?” she asked, a question that resonates deeply within the community of domestic workers.
This question brings to mind the remarkable journey of Myrtle Witbooi, General Secretary of the South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU). Myrtle (71) has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and protections of domestic workers, a group that numbers over one million in South Africa. Many, like Naomi, are undocumented migrants, rendering them especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse
The power of speaking out
Naomi spoke through a journalist. Decades earlier, Myrtle Witbooi had also dared to speak up, inspiring many women across South Africa. Myrtle’s activism began in the 1960s when protections for domestic workers were almost non-existent. Domestic workers were often hidden away in their employers’ homes, making it difficult to organise and perpetuating a cycle of abuse.
Thanks to Myrtle and other activists, domestic workers in South Africa have seen some improvements in their working conditions.
Meet comrade Myrtle: A champion for domestic workers
In the 1960s, when I started working as a domestic worker, questioning authority was not an option. However, one day I found the courage to speak out after reading a derogatory article about domestic workers in the local newspaper. I wrote a letter to the editor asking why domestic workers were seen as different. My employer was white, and I was not, yet we were both women living under the same roof. So why was I considered different?
The backlash was swift and severe. How dare a domestic worker challenge the status quo? A reporter came to our house looking for this “daring nanny” or “servant.” When I told him there was no such person, he revealed he was searching for Myrtle. I responded that I was indeed Myrtle. The assumption was that my employer had written the letter. In a society where domestic workers were seen as voiceless and uneducated, my letter marked the beginning of my life’s purpose.
Domestic work was challenging then, and it remains so. During apartheid, domestic workers were often separated from their families; I had to leave my one-month-old son and husband to live with my employer. With no rights or voice, I worked for over a decade without a single paid holiday. I felt like a slave in my own country, and many other women like me shared that experience.
Following the publication of my letter, I received numerous phone calls. My employer allowed me to use her garage on Sundays to meet with other domestic workers. I soon discovered that many of them were illiterate. Though I had been educated and intended to study nursing, the circumstances in our country made it difficult for many to improve their lives. I began helping those who could not read or write. From these meetings in the garage emerged my lifelong commitment to fighting for domestic workers’ rights. With other like-minded women, I helped form a domestic workers’ union. My activism led to my arrest, separation from my three children, and a divorce.
The quest for freedom
The end of apartheid in 1994 brought a wave of optimism. A new democratic government promised change, but domestic workers were marginalised. Salaries were as low as R110 per month with no pension or benefits. Our appeals to the government yielded little. Frustrated, we protested outside Parliament and blockaded the Department of Labour until they started to listen. Eventually, we achieved a wage increase of about R800 a month.
The Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act were enacted, but challenges remained, particularly unemployment. In 2003, an unemployment fund was established. However, domestic workers still lacked a law ensuring compensation for workplace injuries.
Now domestic workers have every law even though there are issues with implementation and exclusion from the workman’s compensation fund (COIDA). Our advocacy continues to push for the rights and protections of domestic workers globally.
Years later, I attended the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference, where global standards for decent work for domestic workers were being set. Business representatives argued against granting us legal protections, claiming we were part of the family and thus didn’t need separate laws. We stood firm, asserting that domestic workers were not family members. After three years of advocacy, we succeeded in 2011 with ILO Convention 189, which recognises domestic work as decent work. This marked international acknowledgement of our rights, but the challenge was: would our governments ratify the convention?
Implementing C189 remains difficult. Delays in government ratification and ongoing exploitation of migrant workers complicate the situation. Many migrant workers lack proper identification documents, further exacerbating their plight.
Taking C189 forward
In 2013, we established the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) in Uruguay, where I was elected president. The federation, with 67 affiliates (19 in Africa) representing over half a million domestic workers in 54 countries, has been a success. We are committed to ensuring every domestic worker has a voice and support within the federation. We push for the ratification and implementation of C189 in every nation. We will continue to address emerging issues in the world of work and campaign to end gender-based violence. Together, we will ensure that domestic workers are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
The struggle for domestic workers is far from over. Many remain trapped in conditions of exploitation, facing unpaid labour, abuse, and violence. Exploitative labour brokers and agencies continue to thrive, perpetuating these injustices.
I wish for a future where all domestic workers can speak out, claim their rights, and be treated with dignity. My prayer is that all migrant workers will work without restrictions, be recognised, and earn a decent living. Start by challenging your employer with a simple statement: “I want to discuss what I believe is a fair arrangement.”
What you can do to help the struggle of domestic workers
We want to see domestic workers treated with respect in every home. So the IDWF partnered with the ILO to launch the “My Fair Home campaign”. My Fair Home initiative seeks to have employers of domestic workers commit to decent work.
How fair is your home?
- Have you ensured fair wages and reasonable work hours for your domestic worker?
- Did you negotiate the terms and conditions of work with your domestic worker, and is the agreement in writing?
- Does your domestic worker have access to decent healthcare?
- Is your house free from abuse, harassment, and violence?
- Does your domestic worker have decent living conditions and a safe, secure, and private bedroom?
- Is she or he able to spend their free time wherever and however they choose?
If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions you are on the right track to having a fair home.
