Overview of the research and workshop
In March 2025, Dr Acciari and Boufkhed organised the workshop ‘Caring for each other: An international empowerment workshop’, bringing together domestic workers from Brazil and Colombia in Sao Paulo (UCL-ODA funded). The workshop aimed at discussing and translating the findings from their international survey of the labour conditions, exploitation and health of low-paid care workers with the workers.
The research team presented the preliminary results of our survey assessing the labour conditions of care workers – structured about the four dimensions of labour exploitation (Social protection and rights, Finances and Pay issues, Health and Safety at work, Threats to shelter and personal security – Difficult situations at work) – and health of low-paid care workers in both countries, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
On a video available of YouTube, Dr Louisa Acciari (Principal Investigator, UCL) and Dr Sabah Boufkhed (co-Investigator, University of Manchester) share an overview of the research and its key findings, along with some messages for the future.
Five working groups were then organised for each country to discuss each of the five dimensions and health for the workers to discuss the findings and to identify one key message they wish to share. The workers then analysed and translated the findings into key messages to policymakers. The short videos (~1 min) below are key message from domestic workers for policymakers and the wider public for each of the study dimensions.
Domestic workers’ voices on the findings
In the following videos, domestic workers are sending messages to policy-makers to improve their conditions and access to services now, and in case another epi/pandemic…
Social protection and rights
The Brazilian group highlighted the lack of protection and support when they fell ill or needed vaccine during the pandemic, especially for those who lost their job.
The Colombian group called for the government to ensure the implementation of existing laws and remove the burden of evidence from domestic workers when facing rights violations.
Finances and pay issues
The Brazilian group highlighted the issues faced by domestic workers whom employers do not pay the pensions contributions (INSS), and the need for authorities to pass and enforce a law to ensure their pensions contributions are paid.
The Colombian group emphasised that domestic workers are regularly paid below the minimum wage even if it is illegal in Colombia.
Health and safety at work
The Brazilian group highlighted specific hazards during the pandemic and highlights the lack of protection during COVID while they could get sick at their employers’ home and bring that in their homes while having limited to no support.
The Colombian group called for support to get health and safety training, including to safely use cleaning products as they affect their health, and ensure they get adequate protective equipment.
Difficult situations at work (Threat to shelter and personal security)
The Brazilian group highlighted the necessity and urgency of fighting and campaigning against discrimination and sexual misconducts against domestic workers.
The Colombian group also emphasised the high exposure to violence faced by domestic workers, and call for labour inspection at the workplace to live a life free from workplace violence and abuse.
Overall health
The Brazilian group analysed that domestic workers’ high workload combined with unpaid care duties, they cannot take care of their own health unless their working hours are reduced; and the need for better protective equipment, especially for chemicals and skin protection.
Similarly, the Colombian group emphasised the high exposure to chemicals at the workplace and for labour inspection to ensure safe working environment.
International empowerment and future work needed
The workshop was followed by a training organised by FENATRAD, the Brazilian National Federation of Domestic Workers, aiming at building a public document to amplify and spread domestic workers’voices and empower domestic workers to improve their working and living conditions. Colombian and Brazilian workers exchanged for the first time and exchanged knowledge, experiences and strategies.
In the following video, Cleide Pereira Pinto, President of the FENATRAD, and Chrilene dos Santos Brito, FENATRAD’s training officer at the time of the workshop, share about the training and emphasise the workers’role in improving their comditions and the need for workers’voices to be heard far and wide.
To end, Yenny Hurtado, President of SINTRASEDOM (National Union of Domestic Workers, Colombia) highlights the importance of the study for the workers because they got the opportunity to discuss and share their experiences of the pandemic. She emphasises the need to continue the research to explore what has emerged from this study to further support advocacy and obtain laws protecting domestic workers.
An immense thank you to the FENATRAD, SINTRASEDOM, and the workers who participated and shared inspiring stories and insightful comments on the research.