Government intensifies efforts to formalize domestic employment sector
The Ivorian government has doubled down on its commitment to professionalize and formalize the domestic work sector, a vital component of the national economy and daily household operations across Côte d’Ivoire.
Maurice Grah, Deputy Director of Studies and Development at the Social Security Department, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Social Protection, and Vocational Training, reiterated this pledge during the inaugural DOMEX Awards ceremony held in Abidjan-Cocody on June 16, 2026. The event coincided with the International Domestic Workers’ Day.
DOMEX Awards 2026: a milestone for sector recognition
Organized by Aurée Services and the Ivorian Association of Private Employment Agencies (AIAEP), the DOMEX Awards aim to accelerate the professionalization and formalization of domestic work in alignment with the decent work principles outlined by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ceremony also commemorated the 15th anniversary of ILO Convention No. 189, which Côte d’Ivoire ratified in April 2025 and officially implemented in 2026.
Maurice Grah highlighted the sector’s long-standing challenges: “For decades, domestic work has remained undervalued and largely informal, leaving countless workers vulnerable to job insecurity and lacking social protection.”
The government has made decent work, social inclusion, and expanded social security coverage key national priorities. This commitment materialized through the ratification of ILO Convention No. 189, which now ensures domestic workers enjoy the same fundamental labor rights as other employees.
Systematic reforms underway to transform the sector
With support from the ILO and social partners, several transformative initiatives have already been launched. These include a comprehensive national study on the domestic work sector conducted in 2024, the development of ten training and certification frameworks in 2025, and ongoing efforts to establish a dedicated regulatory framework. This framework will feature standardized employment contracts, professional classifications, and salary grids that align with decent work standards.
Adama Kamara, representing the Minister of Employment, emphasized that these actions reflect the government’s determination to sustainably improve the living and working conditions of domestic workers.
Industry stakeholders unite for sectoral transformation
Noëlie Kotty, ILO Country Director’s representative and National Coordinator of the AGRIDOM project, praised Côte d’Ivoire’s ratification of Convention No. 189 and the progress made in formalizing the sector. She described the DOMEX Awards as a pivotal opportunity to recognize the contributions of domestic workers while advancing their rights.
Annick Désirée Dogba, Founder and President of the Domestic Workers’ Association, echoed these sentiments, calling for urgent improvements to working conditions. “Our situation must change. Too many challenges persist in this field,” she stated.
The inaugural DOMEX Awards brought together representatives from the Chamber of Commerce (CGECI), trade unions including DIGNITÉ, private employment agencies, and domestic workers themselves.