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.

Since domestic workers are not regulated in Uganda, they quite often get exposed to uncontrolled, hazardous and exploitative work harmful to their health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. Nonetheless, like other workers, a domestic employee is entitled to report suspected wrongdoing to the district labour officer who will attempt to solve the matter with the employee and employer. In the case of failure, the matter can be taken to the labour commissioner.

In Uganda, these are the people who work in gardens (gardener), an individual who looks after children or works as an (indoor) maid or houseboy.