In a powerful step forward for workers’ rights and gender justice, domestic homecare workers in Timor Leste have formed their first-ever union—a historic milestone for the country’s 30,000 domestic workers, the majority of whom are women.
These workers face long hours, low pay, insecure conditions, and frequent gendered violence and harassment. But now, backed by Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA and the Working Women’s Centre Timor Leste, they are coming together to demand dignity and protection on the job.
This victory has been years in the making. With support from the Australian union movement, principally through sponsored training via SA Union’s Anna Stewart Memorial Project, these courageous women have built the skills and confidence to organise collectively and fight for lasting change.
Now, they’re pushing for a new national law to recognise and protect the rights of domestic workers—a major step toward justice and equality.
This is what international solidarity looks like. When women organise, they change the world.
Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA is currently supporting the Working Women’s Centre Timor-Leste project ‘Advocacy, education, organising and support for Timor’s domestic workers’, which also receives support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).