Coalition Launches Nationwide Drive to Formalise Domestic, Care-Worker Sector

A coalition of public and private institutions has launched a nationwide initiative to regulate and professionalise Nigeria’s domestic and care-worker sector.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is leading the drive alongside the Nigerian Police Force, Keystone Bank, Transcorp Hilton Abuja and other partners.

The group unveiled the initiative on Friday at the National Women Centre in Abuja, according to a statement made available to the media.

The coalition is implementing the programme in partnership with Coralworker.com, a digital platform focused on domestic and care services, with the aim of bringing structure to a sector that supports millions of households but largely operates informally.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Coralworker.com, Chinenye Ogbonnaya, said the partners will roll out coordinated training and awareness programmes across several states to improve professional standards and safeguard workers’ rights.

“The programme will run across multiple states and is expected to equip workers with skills in ethics, soft skills development, first aid, mental health awareness, and human rights protection,” she said.

Ogbonnaya explained that the initiative responds to ongoing national challenges, including human trafficking, worker exploitation and inadequate training in the sector.

“With issues such as human trafficking, worker exploitation, and inadequate training remaining national concerns, stakeholders argue that coordinated interventions are necessary to enhance job security, productivity, and labour mobility,” she added.

She noted that the programme will also help domestic and care workers move into more structured employment arrangements, improve their earning capacity and contribute to economic stability.

“This programme is designed to help workers transition into more formal employment structures, boosting their earning capacity and contributing to broader economic stability,” Ogbonnaya added.

The organisers said the initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening a critical but often overlooked segment of Nigeria’s labour force.