Empowerment Beyond Borders: Advancing the Rights of Domestic Workers

My name is Fleur Keerasuntonpong, and I am from Bangkok, Thailand. I am currently an 11th grader at an all-girls high school in the United States. I serve as the head of my school's Community Service Advisory Board and am involved in various student-initiated clubs. Outside of school, I am very active as well; I am the head of Social Media for an organization called Lady Code, the founder of an Intersectional Feminism Blog, and I have completed an internship at a broadcasting company in Thailand.

Globally, over 67 million domestic workers face exploitation, including unfair wages, poor conditions, and legal barriers, predominantly affecting women and migrants. The lack of formal agreements and inadequate legal protection exacerbates their vulnerability, reinforcing gender inequalities. 

Key Global Insights:

Global Numbers: Over 67 million domestic workers worldwide, with the majority being women.

Gender Disparity: About 80% of domestic workers are female, highlighting significant gender inequalities.

Migrant Workers: A substantial number of domestic workers are migrants, particularly prevalent in regions like the Middle East.

Informal Employment: The majority work informally, lacking formal work agreements, which increases vulnerability to exploitation.

Working Conditions: Many face poor conditions, including long hours, low pay, and abuse, with the private nature of their work making regulation difficult.

Legal Protection: Few countries have fully adopted and enforced laws protecting domestic workers, despite international conventions.

Access to Social Protection: Limited access to social protections like health insurance and pensions, increases their vulnerability in crises.

Our organization is committed to empowering domestic workers worldwide by advocating for fair wages, reasonable work hours, decent conditions, and strong legal rights. Our mission is to build a global community that champions gender equality, economic growth, and reduced inequalities.

Our strategic framework, "REFINE," stands for Respect, Enlightenment, Flourishing, Integration, Nurturing, and Equality. This guides our initiatives to value every voice, raise awareness, empower individuals, merge diverse perspectives, promote well-being, and champion fairness.

Our Strategic Initiatives Include:

Awareness Campaigns: Launching extensive awareness campaigns to educate the public and stakeholders about the challenges faced by domestic workers. These campaigns will emphasize the need for fair treatment and legal protections.

Legislation and Advocacy: Working with policymakers to advocate for the adoption and enforcement of laws that provide comprehensive protection to domestic workers. This includes ensuring fair wages, reasonable working hours, and access to social protections such as health insurance and pensions.

Community Building: Establishing a strong community support system that offers a platform for domestic workers to share their experiences, seek advice, and find solidarity.

Educational and Support Resources: Develop resources and tools to educate domestic workers about their rights and provide them with the necessary skills to negotiate better conditions.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with other organizations, local communities, and legal entities to strengthen the support network for domestic workers and to facilitate legal aid where necessary.

Infrastructure for Crisis Support: Setting up shelters and emergency support services for domestic workers facing abuse or exploitation, ensuring they have a safe place to go.

Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms: Implementing systems to monitor the conditions of domestic workers and to report abuses or violations of their rights, aiding in timely interventions.

Our phased approach starts with creating a website in 2023-2024 to centralize data and promote awareness, aiming to foster a safe community and support domestic workers comprehensively. From 2025-2026, we plan to expand our platform globally and work on securing local legal rights for domestic workers. Beyond 2027, our efforts will include collaborations to provide shelters and further legal support.

Phase 1: 2023-2024 - Establishing Foundations and Raising Awareness

Outputs: Launch a comprehensive website to serve as a central hub for information and resources. Conduct in-depth research to better understand the challenges faced by domestic workers. Initiate awareness campaigns and host career panels to educate the community.

Outcomes: Establish a supportive online community that serves as a safe space for domestic workers. Ensure the platform effectively disseminates valuable information and resources, leading to increased awareness and support within a targeted area.

Phase 2: 2025-2026 - Global Expansion and Legal Advocacy

Outputs: Scale the platform to have a global reach, enhancing the visibility and influence of the initiative. Engage with local authorities and policymakers to advocate for the establishment and enforcement of legal rights for domestic workers.

Outcomes: Achieve a broader support network for domestic workers across multiple cities and countries. Secure localized legal victories that provide frameworks for better working conditions and rights for domestic workers.

Phase 3: 2027 and Beyond - Building Sustainable Support and Legal Aid

Outputs: Form strategic partnerships with legal firms and other relevant organizations. Develop infrastructure to provide shelters and emergency support for domestic workers who have experienced abuse or are in transition.

Outcomes: Deliver tangible, on-the-ground support services including temporary housing and legal assistance. Foster long-term collaborations that bolster our mission and enhance the protective mechanisms for domestic workers.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, we focus on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) to enhance employment conditions for the predominantly female workforce of domestic workers, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions, and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) to support migrant domestic workers by improving their rights and working conditions.

Through these actions, we aim to create a sustainable and equitable environment that respects and upholds the dignity and rights of domestic workers, advancing our mission to empower domestic workers beyond borders.