In many homes across Eswatini, domestic workers are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They rise before the household, clean before anyone even notices, cook meals they themselves may not eat, and slip away quietly at the end of the day- or into a back room if they live in. That is, if they are lucky enough to be provided with housing. Most of the ones who do not live in can only afford a single room house, which is what they can afford with their low wages, in the nearest skom.
They are critical to the running of the modern family, yet they are some of the most marginalised workers in the country. It is not only the wages and the working hours that are of concern, but also how some of these practices have become normalised. In some of these families, domestic workers have their own cups and utensils, which are different from those of the family.
These practices are rarely questioned. They are described as ‘just how things are done.’
What is deeply unsettling is that, in some households today, those same patterns are being repeated not by white employers, but by Black families who once resented that treatment. The cups are still separate. The sofas are still “not for you.’ The hierarchy remains intact, only the faces have changed.
Most domestic workers in Eswatini are women, many from rural or economically vulnerable backgrounds. They clean, cook, wash, care for children, care for the elderly, manage households and provide emotional labour that is rarely acknowledged. Their work requires trust, skill, patience and responsibility.
The physical separation-different cups, different plates, different spaces-is not about hygiene. It is about hierarchy. It sends a clear message: You work here, but you do not belong here. And that message carries weight, especially when repeated daily over years. Another major issue is informality. Many domestic workers are employed without contracts. Hours are vague. Duties expand quietly. Rest days disappear when ‘just one more thing’ becomes a daily expectation. Dismissals can happen suddenly, without notice or pay.
Since domestic work happens behind closed doors, enforcement of labour laws is weak. Labour inspectors do not regularly enter private homes. Workers are often unaware of their rights, and even when they are, asserting them feels dangerous in a country with high unemployment and limited alternatives.
The result is a power imbalance that overwhelmingly favours employers. There is also a psychological cost. Being treated as invisible or inferior takes a toll. Mental health struggles among domestic workers are rarely discussed, but they are real. Anxiety about job security, fear of sudden dismissal and the constant pressure to please can create chronic stress.
At the same time, domestic workers often form deep attachments to the children they care for. They celebrate birthdays, soothe tears and watch milestones unfold. Yet when conflict arises, those bonds offer little protection. The employment relationship remains unequal.
This can be changed. The first step is recognition. Domestic work is work. Not help. Not charity. Not ‘just something she does.’ It is labour that sustains households and enables employers to pursue careers and opportunities outside the home. Fair pay is essential. Wages should reflect the true value of the work being done and should be reviewed regularly to keep up with rising costs of living. Employers must consider transport costs, food prices and the broader economic pressures facing workers.
Written contracts should become standard practice. Rest days and reasonable working hours must be respected. Live-in domestic workers especially need clearly defined personal time. Living in a household does not mean surrendering one’s right to privacy or rest. Above all, dignity must be non-negotiable.
At a national level, stronger enforcement of labour protections is necessary. Public awareness campaigns can challenge harmful norms and encourage fair treatment. Eswatini cannot claim social progress while quietly maintaining domestic hierarchies rooted in historical injustice. True transformation requires dismantling the mindset that some people are naturally meant to serve while others are naturally meant to command.
Doing better is not complicated. It begins with awareness, continues with action, and is sustained by accountability. It is long overdue.
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