During a high-profile event in Abidjan-Cocody, the Ivorian government doubled down on its pledge to transform the domestic work sector into a structured, regulated profession. Maurice Grah, Deputy Director of Studies and Social Security Development, delivered the key message on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Social Protection, and Vocational Training at the inaugural DOMEX Awards ceremony.

Organized by Aurée Services and the Ivorian Association of Private Employment Agency Actors (AIAEP), the DOMEX Awards 2026 coincide with both International Domestic Workers’ Day and the 15th anniversary of ILO Convention No. 189—a landmark agreement ratified by Côte d’Ivoire in April 2025 and officially implemented in 2026.

« For decades, domestic work has operated in the shadows of the informal economy, leaving countless workers vulnerable to exploitation and deprived of basic labor protections, » Grah emphasized. He highlighted that the government has prioritized decent work, social inclusion, and expanded social security coverage as national objectives.

The ratification of Convention No. 189 now enshrines domestic workers’ rights, granting them parity with other employees in terms of fundamental labor protections. Supported by the ILO and social partners, Côte d’Ivoire has already made significant strides: a 2024 national study mapped the sector’s landscape, ten vocational training and certification frameworks were developed in 2025, and regulatory work is underway to introduce standardized contracts, professional classifications, and equitable pay scales aligned with decent work principles.

Adama Kamara, representing the Minister, stressed that these measures reflect a long-term strategy to uplift living and working conditions across the sector.

Noëlie Kotty, ILO Country Director’s representative and National Coordinator of the AGRIDOM project, commended Côte d’Ivoire’s progress and hailed the DOMEX Awards as a powerful platform to honor domestic workers’ contributions while advancing their rights. « This recognition is long overdue, » she noted.

Annick Désirée Dogba, Founder and President of the Domestic Workers’ Association, echoed the call for urgent reforms. « Our sector still faces immense challenges—poor working conditions, lack of job security, and minimal social protections. We need real change now, » she insisted.

The inaugural DOMEX Awards brought together leaders from the Private Sector Employers’ Association of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI), labor unions like DIGNITÉ, private employment agencies, and domestic workers from across the country.