The unequal distribution of care work has significantly hindered progress towards gender equality worldwide. This issue is especially relevant in Indonesia and the Philippines, ranked 110th and 101st in the Gender Inequality Index, respectively. Although the Philippines has ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention 189, Indonesia hasn't, further jeopardizing the rights of its domestic workers.

Migrant domestic workers face increased vulnerability due to their immigration status. They typically live with their employers and have fewer social protections than local domestic workers. Moreover, they're at a higher risk of experiencing sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.

There's no specific law protecting domestic workers. The country's labour laws exclude domestic workers from the definition of "any person who works and receives wages or other forms of remuneration." The domestic care work sector makes up 8 per cent of the Indonesian population, and only 50 per cent are protected by minimum wage or equivalent sectoral rates. Additionally, it's estimated that there are 700,000 children in the Indonesian domestic care work sector, 42 per cent of whom are physically, psychologically, and sexually abused.

Studies show that unpaid care work, which isn't accounted for in labour statistics, poses a significant barrier to women's economic empowerment. The domestic care work sector's high level of informality and the requirement that many domestic workers live with their employers make research challenging, resulting in estimates rather than accurate numbers. Collecting accurate research data on care work is a major challenge. This applies to domestic workers who may be at risk, as well as civil society organizations, women's rights organizations, and care advocates who rely on research to push for more investments and policy changes.