Short answers, pulled from the story.
The International Labour Organization estimated that 67.1 million people worked as domestic workers globally in 2015. Experts warn the true number could reach 100 million because this labor is often hidden and unregistered.
Women make up 83 percent of the global domestic workforce. The work is predominantly done by women who are often migrants seeking better economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
Domestic work in Guatemala is legally exempt from standard working hour limits. This exemption leaves workers with little recourse when employers demand 18-hour days or deny them basic civil liberties.
Politicians excluded domestic workers from Social Security and the Fair Labor Standards Act to avoid losing support from Southern Democrats who backed segregation. It was not until 1950 that household employees were added to Social Security coverage.
Uruguay became the first country to ratify the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers on the 26th of April 2012. This ratification set a precedent for other nations to follow the international standards for domestic workers.
Kenya reported 274 deaths of domestic workers in the last five years. Many women from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines face a range of abuses including death while working in countries like Saudi Arabia.