Domestic workers are not regulated in Uganda; however, in case there is a problem, just like any other employee, a domestic worker may report to the district labour officer who will call the employer to settle the matter. If the complaint is not resolved then the matter may be brought to the attention of the labour commissioner. Or can visit PLA offices.

In order to make it easier to get assistance in case of any problem, a domestic worker should have an employment contract.

Given the fact that there is no minimum wage for domestic workers in Uganda, employers are responsible for setting a certain wage. This implies that the power to set a certain wage for a domestic worker depends on the bargaining power of the worker. The minimum wage in Uganda was set in 1984 and has not been revised since then. Domestic workers are usually paid between shs4,000 (US$ 1.78) and shs10,000 (US$ 4.44) per month. From these figures it is clear that the current situation suggests that these workers are being exploited. As an employer you are not meant to exploit domestic workers. Therefore, a reasonable wage should be agreed at the start to avoid cases of exploitation.

The employment act has a very narrow mention of domestic workers where it states that there is no permit requirement for one to recruit a domestic servant for employment. While the employment act 2006 recognises “housemaids,” the irony is that the act does not recognise the category of workers known as “domestic workers” because homes are considered private premises and therefore cannot be inspected by labour officers to enforce the act.

That is the only provision in the law; the constitution of the Republic of Uganda does not have specific provision tackling the work done by domestic workers in Uganda.

In this case, employers should exhibit their utmost integrity to treat domestic workers as human beings. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that there is a fair and decent working environment for a domestic worker.