The Centre for Children’s Health Education (CEE-HOPE) and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) have urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the domestic workers’ rights bill, to curb maltreatment and the recruitment of underage house helps.

During a consultative meeting in Abuja, CEE-HOPE Executive Director Betty Abbah, expressed worry over the lack of unionism, which has contributed to violence and sexual exploitation of domestic workers.

Abbah added that the clamour was anchored on the recent passage of the Informal Sector Employment (Regulation) Bill by the Senate, which seeks to formalise domestic work and regulate employment in the informal sector.

According to her, domestic workers are one of the most abused people in Nigeria, lamenting that many suffer abuse without justice. She recalled the case of Joy, a domestic worker from Benue State, who was allegedly killed by her employers during the COVID-19 lockdown after being locked up, starved and beaten, noting that investigations later confirmed her death was a homicide.

Abbah said many such incidents could have been prevented if domestic workers had unions to protect their rights, adding that Nigeria, despite having one of the highest numbers of domestic workers in Africa, lacks a functional domestic workers’ union.

She cited countries such as Ghana, Kenya and South Africa where domestic workers enjoy protection through unionisation and referenced the International Labour Organisation Convention 189, which guarantees decent work conditions and the right to form unions.

She said: “In Nigeria, many domestic workers work round the clock, including children as young as seven. Unionisation will significantly reduce abuse and exploitation.”

On her part, NAWOJ Vice President, Zone D, Chizoba Ogbeche, stressed that most maltreatment of domestic workers is carried out by women. Ogbeche stressed that, beyond legislation, mindset change and sustained media follow-up were critical, noting that many abuse cases collapse due to a lack of investigation and interference.

She also condemned the practice of hiring domestic workers through agencies and paying the agencies directly, describing it as exploitation and modern-day slavery.

Ogbeche said NAWOJ had embraced the campaign and commenced advocacy across its chapters in the North, North Central states, and the Federal Capital Territory, pledging continued media engagement to ensure domestic workers are treated with dignity.