Empowering Domestic Workers: A Guide to Skills, Rights, and Unionism

Domestic work is a vital and age-old occupation that contributes significantly to households and national economies worldwide. In Kenya, domestic workers are a crucial part of the labor market, with an estimated 118,646 workers in formal employment as of 2022. Despite its importance, the sector is often characterized by decent work deficits, including discrimination, low wages, long hours, and lack of formal contracts and social security. To combat these challenges and uplift the domestic workforce, the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions and Hospital Workers (KUDHEIHA) has developed a comprehensive training manual.

The manual aims to build a productive and efficient workforce, improve workers’ self-awareness, and empower them to demand and advance their fundamental rights.

Key Areas of Training

The manual is structured into four main sections, each with a series of lessons designed to be practical and learner-centered.

1. Soft Skills:

This section focuses on personal and interpersonal development. It includes lessons on essential life skills, self-awareness, cultural diversity, and effective communication.

2. Work Readiness:

To enhance employability, this section covers practical skills. Topics include homecare, safety and health protocols, digital literacy for gender mainstreaming, and financial literacy.

3. Trade Unionism, Organizing, and Collective Bargaining:

This crucial part of the manual educates workers on their rights and how to collectively advocate for them. It covers the principles of trade unionism, recruitment strategies, collective bargaining in Kenya, and procedures for handling grievances and disputes.

4. Labour Rights:

The final section provides a detailed look at the legal framework protecting domestic workers. It highlights key aspects of Kenya’s labor laws, the International Labour Organization’s Domestic Workers Convention (No. 189), and the Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190). This section also addresses the identification and explanation of key labor rights violations and forms of gender-based violence and harassment.

The Manual’s Purpose

Developed with the support of Oxfam in Kenya, the manual is a tool for KUDHEIHA to train and build the capacity of domestic workers. The training is intended to be highly flexible, with methods like formal presentations, group activities, case studies, and role-plays recommended to keep participants engaged. This learner-centric approach ensures that the training is tailored to the specific needs and schedules of domestic workers, who may have tight time constraints. By empowering domestic workers with knowledge of their rights and practical skills, the manual serves as a vital resource for securing and improving their welfare in the workforce.