Examining child protection against exploitation of Child Domestic Workers (CDWs): a case of Kampala, Uganda

Despite the legal instruments concerning child welfare such as child labour laws as part of efforts to protect children from exploitation in employment, it excludes particularly Child Domestic Workers (CDWs) in Uganda. The study provides knowledge on labour experiences including conditions of CDWs in households and specifically exploitation in domestic em-ployment, using a case of CDWs who live in employers’ residences in Kampala, Uganda. The study analyses ways in which social identities of gender, age, race, and power relations be-tween CDWs and employers in the employment space play out. While the employer-em-ployee relationship, how it impacts on CDWs wellbeing and the situation of CDWs and their rights during daily execution of their work in households in the Kampala, Uganda context is significant and examined in the study, the findings reveal that CDWs make social and eco-nomic contributions through providing human capital for many households in Uganda, how-ever, policymakers have largely ignored their protection concerns. The study uses the Child Rights-Based Approach (CRBA) and feminist perspective to analyze the situation and rights of CDWs in households and exposes some factors that drive children into domestic work. Using an intersectional approach, the study focuses on social identities and position of CDWs in the analysis of the employer-employee relationship based on the central argument that feminization of domestic work as naturally and culturally constructed as a woman kind of job has contributed to the ignoring of CDWs protection concerns within the labour laws. Finally, the study findings suggest inclusive approaches to policy change towards child pro-tection including labour rights to cater to all categories of children including those in domes-tic employment. Additionally, effective laws, programs, and policy protection mechanisms tailored to the unique nature of domestic work and CDWs special protection needs such as awareness creation on child labour rights, recognizing domestic work as significant employ-ment by incorporating into the labour laws like the employment Act (2006) in Uganda are urgently needed.