Polishing the City of Gold: Paid Domestic Work in Johannesburg, South Africa
Presenter: David Du Toit
Discussant: Ruth Castel-Branco
Date: 28 August 2025
Time: 1.30-3.30pm
Venue: PARI offices and online
Register here to attend in person: Joburg City Urban Crisis Seminars
Register here to attend online: Meeting Registration – Zoom
Abstract
For most paid domestic workers, the workplace is an urban household. This study focuses on the experiences of domestic workers in Johannesburg, South Africa, revealing how the intersection of local context and international standards shapes labour dynamics. Specifically, I examine the impact of ILO Convention 189 and the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic workers’ lives. Drawing on decade-long studies employing diverse methodologies, this study provides insights into the daily challenges and adaptive strategies of domestic workers. While most traditional analyses compare national legal frameworks, I argue for the importance of citylevel comparisons and explore the realities of domestic employment based on three key aspects— transportation, stigma and employer-domestic worker relationships. Finally, I advocate for more city-level research to inform policies for improving domestic workers’ well-being.
About the series
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics, continue this seminar series to offer scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students an opportunity to share their ongoing work, either by discussing work in progress or presenting upcoming and new publications on the City of Johannesburg.
In 2025, the series provides a collaborative space and dialogue to scholars, researchers, activists and policy makers, to share their ongoing work on the City of Johannesburg.
This is an itinerant series and the details of each seminar will be published one week prior.
