Child Domestic Labour: A Modern Form of Slavery

This article provides a global scene for the scope of child domestic labour and explores the inter-woven relationship between the practice and slavery, as well as the consequences for this uniquely vulnerable group of child workers. In doing so, it seeks to dispel the myths that child domestic work is a safe form of employment for girls (particularly those living with their employers), and that the practice offers any significant benefits for the majority of the children concerned. However, practitioners must avoid demonising employers if they are to assist child domestic workers (CDWs) more effectively, and should facilitate the empowerment of CDWs to protect themselves. Fundamentally, major changes are needed in societal attitudes which promote the continuance of the practice. For the sake of clarity, children and young persons under 18 years who are the subject of this study are referred to as "CDWs" and the work they do as "child domestic labour" (or occasionally as "domestic service"). The word "her" in this study is shorthand for "his and her" and is used because the large majority of CDWs are female.