Dhaka: A total of 60 million of the world’s 67 million domestic workers still do not have access to any kind of social security coverage, BSS reports quoting a new ILO study.

The largest gaps in social security coverage for domestic work are concentrated in developing countries, with Asia and Latin America representing 68 percent of domestic workers worldwide, said the study, titled ‘Social protection for domestic workers: Key policy trends and statistics.’

However, it was found that social protection deficits for domestic workers also persist in some industrialized countries.

In Italy, for example, some 60 percent of domestic workers are not registered with, or contributing to, social security systems. In Spain and France, 30 percent of domestic workers are excluded from social security coverage.

The ILO study, which was published on Monday, also warns that migrant domestic workers, currently estimated at 11.5 million worldwide, often face even greater discrimination.

Around 14 percent of countries whose social security systems provide some type of coverage for domestic workers do not extend the same rights to migrant domestic workers.

Finally, the report also demonstrates that coverage of domestic workers by social security schemes is feasible and affordable, including in lower middle and low-income countries, as evidence from Mali, Senegal and Vietnam clearly demonstrates.

A clear trend toward increased coverage, especially in developing countries has been shown in the report. However, resolving the worldwide deficit of social security coverage for domestic workers still remains a major challenge.

There is no justification for this group to remain excluded from social security which is a human right for all, concludes the ILO report.