Abstract
Domestic work is very precarious and this is mainly because of the risk and job insecurity
associated with the work. Domestic workers are atypical workers and constitute an
important part of the informal economy in most countries. South Africa has over one
million domestic workers. A substantial part of the population of domestic workers in
South Africa are women. Considering the precarious nature of domestic work, many
academics; labour organisations; and trade unions both in international and domestic
settings have called for the social security protection of domestic workers. The call for
domestic workers to be protected has become increasingly important in recent timesparticularly during the Covid-19 pandemic where most domestic workers have been
reported to have lost their jobs. The call for social security protection for domestic workers
in South Africa is anchored in the fact that such protection will pave the way for the
realisation of decent work for domestic workers in South Africa. This dissertation seeks to
assess the various ways through which decent work for domestic workers can be
theoretically realised under South African labour law. In reaching the foregoing aim, this
dissertation appraises international conventions that seek to promote and establish
minimum standards of treatment towards domestic workers and how those standards can
aid, improve, and protect the rights of domestic workers in South Africa. This dissertation
further analyses some of the challenges and difficulties domestic workers face in
implementing their right to improved working conditions; social protection; and social
dialogue rights in the work environment within South Africa. This dissertation accordingly
makes a case for the utmost protection and promotion of decent work for domestic workers
under the laws of South Africa.
LL.M. (Labour Law)