Togbe Adom Drayi II, Head of Organisation Department at the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), on Monday observed that though domestic servants rendered invaluable services to their employers, they were the least protected under the labour law.
He noted that some employers refused to sign employment contracts on the assertion that they were providing employment to their employees.
Togbe Drayi made the observation at an advocacy workshop on Social Protection for Domestic Workers in Accra.
He said the concept of domestic work was rooted in the socio-cultural setting and involved the upbringing of children beyond one's immediate social confines.
However, Togbe Drayi noted that modernity had changed this concept and extra hands in the household had become domestic workers.
He explained that domestic work for trained or untrained workers in the household include persons such as: caregivers,gardeners, drivers and cooks, adding that unfortunately, most of
them work under harsh conditions and long periods.
"Due to the undefined schedule of work, theirs is 'severe decent work deficit," he added.
Togbe Drayi said because of the harsh conditions of work, there had been neglect and negative treatment meted out to domestic workers, who were often undervalued and unprotected.