Domestic work has long existed not only in Vietnam but also in almost all countries of the world. In the process of international integration, this type of work has increasingly developed. Domestic workers, most of them women, play an important role not only in the families employing them but also in the national economy and the labour market. This is because, when joining the labour market, domestic workers help other women perform their work at offices, enterprises, hospitals and schools while they are at ease of their housework, the work which is supposed to be done by them, but not very well if they do both housework and office work at the same time. In addition, domestic work brings about rather stable income for many rural women workers who have low education, and no stable jobs. Although domestic work provides higher income than farm work and other freelance jobs, it does not meet the demand for basic living standards because informal work rarely accompanies good pay, good working conditions and social protection. Besides, prejudice on domestic work and domestic workers remains heavy in our society.

The Monograph “Vietnamese Domestic Workers”, compiled by the Research Centre for Gender, Family and Community Development (GFCD) has 5 chapters

I. International and Vietnamese legal framework on domestic workers
II. Overview of Vietnamese Domestic Workers
III. Socio-economic values of domestic workers
IV. Competency Standards for domestic workers
V. Recommendations and policy implications.

It provides a synthesis and analysis of research results as well as Vietnamese and international laws and regulations related to domestic work.

It is expected that the monograph will be a useful book, meeting the need for information on domestic workers in service of management, research and development of policies and plans of government agencies, research institutions and readers at home and abroad. The book is completed with technical and financial assistance from Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southeast Asia and in cooperation with a national consultant team.

- Dr. Bui Sy Loi, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Social Affairs, Vietnam National Assembly