Cartilha sobre trabalhador(a) doméstico(a): conceitos, direitos, deveres e informações sobre a relação de trabalho (PDF only)
© ILO
One of the oldest professions in many countries, the domestic work is a significant source of occupation for many women in the world, and serves as an entrance in the labour market for poor women. It is an essential labour activity not only for the functioning of homes (domiciles), but also for the economies. Although it contributes to society and to economy, the domestic work is undervalued and not regulated. It is one of the occupations that present the greatest deficits of decent work. Traditionally it is a work played predominantly by women and is also related to the world-wide history of slavery of colonialism and other forms of servitude.
Due to its characteristics, its role in the structure of the labour market, and its relation with basic aspects of the social organization, as well as with gender and racial inequalities, the domestic work is marked by invisibility, under recognition, and by situations of precariousness and informality. This booklet was elaborated with intention to facilitate the understanding of the domestic worker in regard to its rights and duties. It allows the access to information and legislative rules to improve and to strengthen the labour relations. The intention is to offer subsidies for the necessary advances to overcoming the inequalities and to strengthen the domestic workers, making possible, thus, the exercise of this important professional activity in worthy conditions.
This booklet was produced in the scope of the Joint Interagency Programme entitled “Security Citizen: preventing violence and strengthening citizenship focusing on children, adolescents and youth in vulnerable conditions in Brazilian communities”. It is an initiative financially sponsored by Fund for Reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG-F), composed by six UN System Agencies: UNDP, UNODC, UNESCO, ILO, UN-HABITAT, and UNICEF. The programme is developed in partnership with the Ministry of Justice in Brazil, through PRONASCI, and sponsored by City Hall of Vitória (State of Espírito Santo).
Brasilia: ILO, 2012. 28 p.
Free download (PDF, 77Kb, only in Portuguese at ILO Brazil website).