Situational Analysis of Domestic Workers in Tanzania 2025.
Domestic work remains one of the most invisible yet essential forms of labour in Tanzania. Behind clean homes, cared-for children, and supported households are thousands of domestic workers, mostly young women, whose labour sustains urban life while their own rights, safety, and dignity remain largely unprotected.
In August 2025, WoteSawa Domestic Workers Organization commissioned a comprehensive situational analysis to better understand the realities facing domestic workers in Tanzania. Conducted across five regions, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Morogoro, Dodoma, and Arusha, the study combined household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to generate evidence for advocacy, programming, and policy reform.
Who Are Domestic Workers in Tanzania?
The findings reveal a sector that is overwhelmingly feminized and youthful. More than 91 percent of domestic workers are women, with an average age of just 22 years. Most are single and have limited formal education, over half completed only primary school, while 14 percent never attended school at all. Very few have received vocational training.
Domestic work is also deeply tied to internal migration. Many workers originate from rural or economically marginalized regions such as Tanga, Dodoma, Singida, Kagera, and Kigoma, moving to urban centres in search of livelihood opportunities. This migration often comes at a personal cost: over 94 percent of domestic workers support dependents, commonly younger siblings, children, or elderly relatives. Despite earning low wages, they remain critical economic providers for extended families.
Informal Employment and Long Working Hours
The study confirms that domestic work in Tanzania is largely informal. Most workers are employed under verbal agreements, with only 8 percent having written contracts. This lack of formalization exposes workers to unclear expectations, arbitrary dismissal, and limited access to justice.
Working hours are long and poorly regulated. Nearly half of domestic workers reported working nine or more hours per day, while about 40 percent work more than 56 hours per week. Live-in workers, who make up over 80 percent of the workforce, are particularly vulnerable, as the boundary between work and rest is often blurred. Some workers reported being “on call” almost continuously, especially during weekends.
Despite this heavy workload, overtime compensation is rare. Among those who reported working overtime, more than three-quarters received no additional pay. This reflects both weak enforcement of labour laws and low awareness among workers about their rights.
Low Wages and Limited Social Protection
Monthly wages for domestic workers remain alarmingly low. Most earn between TZS 30,000 and 100,000 per month, with TZS 50,000 being the most commonly reported wage. Payments are predominantly made in cash, reinforcing informality and making income tracking or dispute resolution difficult.
Access to social protection is minimal. Over 96 percent of domestic workers are not covered by health insurance, and more than half reported having no access to healthcare support through their employment. Homes are not formally recognized as workplaces under occupational safety and health frameworks, leaving domestic workers excluded from inspections and protections enjoyed by other workers.
Limited Awareness of Rights and Weak Protection Mechanisms
One of the most concerning findings is the low level of awareness of labour rights. Only about 11 percent of domestic workers are aware of legal protections governing their work, and fewer than 18 percent know about the minimum wage. Union membership is extremely low, further weakening collective bargaining power.
While some workers know where to report labour disputes, very few actually do so. Fear of retaliation, lack of evidence, dependency on income, and power imbalances between workers and employers discourage reporting. When disputes are reported, however, outcomes are often fair, suggesting that access, not effectiveness, is the main barrier.
Abuse, Gender Inequality, and Social Stigma
Gender dynamics play a significant role in shaping domestic workers’ experiences. About 43 percent of respondents reported experiencing at least one form of abuse. Emotional abuse was the most common, followed by economic abuse, physical abuse, and sexual harassment.
Beyond direct abuse, domestic workers face deep social stigma. Over half reported that society looks down upon their work, often referring to them using degrading terms such as “house girl.” Many are excluded from community activities or restricted by employers from social interaction, reinforcing isolation and invisibility.
Training Gaps and Desire for Better Opportunities
Only 17 percent of domestic workers have ever received any form of training, yet nearly all who did found it beneficial. Training improves confidence, job performance, and employability, but opportunities remain scarce and are largely provided by NGOs like WoteSawa rather than government institutions.
Notably, most domestic workers do not see the sector as a long-term career. Less than a quarter intend to remain in domestic work, citing low wages, excessive workloads, and abuse as reasons for wanting to exit. Many aspire to self-employment or further education if given the opportunity.
Migration Risks and Human Trafficking
Migration for domestic work carries significant risks. Over one-third of domestic workers lack identification documents, increasing vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking. Jobs are often found through informal networks, with little regulation or oversight. Although many workers do not perceive themselves as vulnerable, access to support services remains extremely limited.
Conclusion: The Urgent Need for Reform
Our situational analysis makes one thing clear: domestic workers are essential to Tanzania’s economy and social fabric, yet they remain among the most vulnerable and least protected workers. Informality, weak legal enforcement, low wages, long working hours, and social stigma continue to define the sector.
Addressing these challenges requires urgent action, harmonizing national laws with ILO Convention No. 189, promoting written contracts, expanding access to social protection, strengthening awareness of rights, investing in skills development, and safeguarding migrant domestic workers.
Formalizing and professionalizing domestic work is not just a labour issue, it is a matter of dignity, gender justice, and human rights. Domestic workers deserve recognition, protection, and the opportunity to work in safe, fair, and decent conditions.
