Domestic worker leaders and civil society organizations met to review progress and strengthen collective action to secure a 24-hour weekly day off as a labour right for all domestic workers.
A paid weekly day off is a basic labour right and a core element of decent work. For many domestic workers in Malaysia, however, this is not guaranteed. Instead, access to a day off is often subject to repeated negotiation with individual employers, in the absence of clear and enforceable protections.
The 8 February 2026 consultation brought together domestic worker leaders and civil society organizations as part of an ongoing campaign led by two migrant domestic worker associations: the Asosasyon Ng Mga Makabayang Manggagawang, representing Pilipino Overseas Malaysia (AMMPO) and Persatuan Pekerja Rumah Tangga Indonesia Migran (PERTIMIG), representing Indonesian migrant domestic workers. The initiative is supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the PROTECT project.
The consultation formed part of several years of sustained, worker-led advocacy. Since 2020, domestic worker associations in Malaysia have worked to document lived experiences, consolidate collective demands and advance recognition of the weekly day off as a right at work rather than an employer concession. Activities have included participatory research with domestic workers, the production of public-facing advocacy materials including a documentary film, and engagement with government authorities, embassies and other stakeholders on gaps in legal protection and enforcement.
Evidence shared during the consultation highlighted the scale of the issue. Interviews with 108 live-in migrant domestic workers from Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia, conducted between September and November 2023, found that 43 per cent were working seven days a week. A further 41 per cent reported receiving only an "occasional" day off, most commonly once a month or once a fortnight.
"This is not a new issue," said Uli Rini, a leader from PERTIMIG. "NGOs and trade unions have continuously advocated for a paid day off. We are not robots. Sufficient rest is not just a need; it is key to our mental and physical health." She added that despite years of advocacy, protection remains uneven. "A 24-hour weekly day off should not be a negotiated benefit. It should be a right for every domestic worker working in Malaysia."
During the meeting, domestic worker leaders also presented a renewed campaign strategy, outlining priorities for the next phase of advocacy. The central aim of the consultation was to gather feedback on this strategy and clarify how trade unions and civil society organizations and other allies can contribute to its implementation through advocacy and policy engagement.
Discussions also focused on how domestic workers' experiences of negotiating paid time off can be used more strategically to move the campaign forward. Participants drew on both unsuccessful negotiations and successful outcomes to refine campaign messaging, identifying approaches that resonate with employers and the wider public and considering how workers' stories and evidence can be leveraged to broaden support.
"We need the support of everyone for this to become reality," said Donna Mae, an AMMPO leader. "It may take weeks or it may take years, but we know that one day, things will change. Domestic workers are too important to be left out by the law."
