About two out of five domestic workers lost their jobs due to the pandemic in Kenya, according to a report on pay and working conditions across Africa.
This even as 55 per cent of domestic workers in Kenya earn too little to save while 64 per cent are in debt, the report notes.
On average, domestic workers earn Sh8,522, while their monthly living costs are Sh10,731, meaning they’re forced to take on debt or reduce spending on vital items to make ends meet every month.
42 per cent of their wages is spent on rent, 40 per cent on food and 22 per cent on transport.
24 per cent of the workers reported having personal savings or pension in the report.
According to SweepSouth CEO Aisha Pandor, a year later since the pandemic started domestic workers continue to suffer job losses and economic hardship.
Pandor noted that even though there are some encouraging signs, the general outlook is still grim.
The report, which is the first to be conducted across three countries – Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria – had more than 7,000 respondents.
“When it comes to basic living costs, the pandemic’s economic fallout has had a devastating effect on domestic workers’ livelihoods,” the report notes.
The report adds that while living costs are down for the workers, this is due to them sacrificing variable-cost items such as food to stretch their earnings, which strongly suggests a falling quality of life.
On a positive note, the survey revealed a clear correlation between better employment protections for domestic workers and their work conditions.
While Kenya and South Africa’s protections specific to domestic workers lay down basic rights and principles in achieving decent work for them, Nigeria’s regulations are not as extensive.
Another finding is the vaccine hesitancy and concern across all the countries, with South Africa showing the greatest hesitancy, despite 39 per cent of respondents having experienced the loss of someone they know to Covid-19 and having comprehensive knowledge of the virus.
