The Ivorian government has reaffirmed its commitment to professionalising and formalising domestic work, a critical sector for both the national economy and the daily lives of countless households.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Social Protection and Vocational Training, Deputy Director of Social Security Studies and Development Maurice Grah reiterated this pledge on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in Abidjan-Cocody during the first edition of the DOMEX Awards, held on the sidelines of the International Domestic Workers’ Day.
Organised by Aurée Services and the Ivorian Association of Private Employment Agency Actors (AIAEP), the 2026 DOMEX Awards aim to support national efforts towards professionalising and formalising the domestic sector, in line with the decent work principles promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The event also marked the 15th anniversary of ILO Convention 189, which entered into force in Côte d’Ivoire in 2026 after its ratification in April 2025.
“For a long time, domestic work remained insufficiently recognised and was largely characterised by informality, exposing many workers to precarious conditions and a lack of social protection,” Grah stressed.
He recalled that the government has made decent work, social inclusion and the extension of social protection national priorities. This commitment materialised through the ratification of Convention 189, which now guarantees domestic workers the same fundamental rights as other employees.
With support from the ILO and social partners, several actions have already been undertaken, including a national study on the sector conducted in 2024, the development of ten training and certification frameworks in 2025, and ongoing efforts to adopt a specific regulatory framework comprising a standard contract, job classification and a pay scale aligned with decent work principles.
According to the representative of Minister Adama Kamara, these initiatives reflect the government’s determination to sustainably improve the living and working conditions of those in the sector.
Speaking on behalf of the ILO country director, Noëlie Kotty, national coordinator of the AGRIDOM project, welcomed the ratification of Convention 189 and the progress made in formalising the sector. She described the DOMEX Awards as a major opportunity to highlight the contribution of domestic workers while further promoting their rights.
Annick Désirée Dogba, founder and president of the Association of Domestic Workers, called for better working conditions for domestic employees. “We want our situation to change, because in this field we still face many difficulties,” she stated.
The first edition of the DOMEX Awards brought together representatives from CGECI, trade unions including DIGNITÉ, private employment agencies, and many domestic workers.
