Domestic work, wages, and gender equality: lessons from developing countries

Fuente: Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT)
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Main Authors: Martin Oelz, Uma Rani
Format: Entrada de enciclopedia
Published: International Labour Organization 2015
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author Martin Oelz
Uma Rani
author_facet Martin Oelz
Uma Rani
Martin Oelz
Uma Rani
contents Domestic work, wages, and gender equality: lessons from developing countries Martin Oelz Uma Rani The ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) calls for inclusion of domestic workers into minimum wage coverage and for effective measures for ensuring compliance. This paper seeks to contribute to a better understanding of developments regarding labour market participation and remuneration in the domestic work sector in comparison with other sectors, drawing on latest available household and labour surveys data and legal information from a diverse group of developing countries (Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Indonesian, Mali, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa,Turkey, and Viet Nam). The paper looks at the basic characteristics of female domestic workers, gaps in minimum wage coverage, compliance, and the extent of minimum wage violations. Presenting empirical evidence on labour market inequality along gender lines, the paper discusses the role of minimum wages for reducing gender disparity and questions of regulatory design. Finally, the paper examines strategies for compliance and enforcement, arguing that there is a need for comprehensive and innovative approaches in order to ensure respect for minimum wage legislation in the domestic work sector. It concludes that minimum wages for domestic workers are indeed an important tool for promoting gender equality within a broader approach to addressing informality and worker’s empowerment. Research Department working paper (International Labour Organization), no. 7, ILO publication.encyclopediaEntry
format Entrada de enciclopedia
id ilo_995219192402676
institution Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT)
publishDate 2015
publisher International Labour Organization
spellingShingle Domestic work, wages, and gender equality: lessons from developing countries
Martin Oelz
Uma Rani
Domestic work, wages, and gender equality: lessons from developing countries Martin Oelz Uma Rani The ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) calls for inclusion of domestic workers into minimum wage coverage and for effective measures for ensuring compliance. This paper seeks to contribute to a better understanding of developments regarding labour market participation and remuneration in the domestic work sector in comparison with other sectors, drawing on latest available household and labour surveys data and legal information from a diverse group of developing countries (Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Indonesian, Mali, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa,Turkey, and Viet Nam). The paper looks at the basic characteristics of female domestic workers, gaps in minimum wage coverage, compliance, and the extent of minimum wage violations. Presenting empirical evidence on labour market inequality along gender lines, the paper discusses the role of minimum wages for reducing gender disparity and questions of regulatory design. Finally, the paper examines strategies for compliance and enforcement, arguing that there is a need for comprehensive and innovative approaches in order to ensure respect for minimum wage legislation in the domestic work sector. It concludes that minimum wages for domestic workers are indeed an important tool for promoting gender equality within a broader approach to addressing informality and worker’s empowerment. Research Department working paper (International Labour Organization), no. 7, ILO publication.encyclopediaEntry
title Domestic work, wages, and gender equality: lessons from developing countries
url https://researchrepository.ilo.org/esploro/outputs/encyclopediaEntry/Domestic-work-wages-and-gender-equality/995219192402676