Domestic labour is widely recognised as one of the most vulnerable labour
sectors, both nationally and internationally. In South Africa, Sectoral Determination 7 (S.D.7)
was specifically promulgated to protect domestic workers’ rights and provide them with the
means to negotiate with and hold employers to account. However, research over the past
decade has demonstrated that while some areas of domestic labour have improved, many
workers are still locked in exploitative labour relationships. This article explores the
dynamics of the domestic labour relationship using extracts from interviews with domestic
workers. It argues that paternalistic relationships can have as limiting an effect on workers’
ability to exercise their rights, as fear and exploitation.