Reflection on International Women's Day

A Personal Journey Marked by Courage, Sacrifice, and Love

As International Women’s Day approaches, I find myself reflecting not only on my journey but on the sacrifices it demanded. Today, I serve as the Deputy Director of Voice of Domestic Workers and Branch Secretary of Unite the Union’s Domestic Workers Branch. Yet beneath these roles, I am simply a mother from a humble background who once made the most difficult choice of my life — leaving my home, my family, and my children behind in search of a better life for them.

My story is deeply personal, but it is far from unique. Around the world, an estimated 75.6 million domestic workers provide care and essential services in private households, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Nearly 76% of them are women, many of whom are migrant mothers supporting families across borders.

The Weight of a Mother’s Choice

Years ago, I was just a mother with one simple hope: that my children would have opportunities I never had. I left home not out of ambition or desire, but out of necessity.

Globally, more than 169 million people are international migrant workers, and women make up 42% of that workforce, according to the International Organisation for Migration. Many are mothers who migrate to provide food, education, and healthcare for their children.

I missed birthdays, school plays, parent-teacher meetings, and many ordinary moments that most mothers are there for. I even missed my own daughter’s wedding — a day I had always dreamed of sharing with her. I was not there to help her get ready or to hold her hand as she started her new life. The guilt of those absences never leaves me.

Research shows that remittances — the money migrant workers send home — reached over $800 billion globally in recent years, surpassing foreign direct investment in many developing countries. Behind those numbers are mothers like me, transforming separation into survival.

I still remember the nights I cried quietly, staring at their faces through a screen, wishing I could be there to hold them, to comfort them, to celebrate their milestones in person. I missed their laughter echoing in our home, their tiny hands reaching for mine, their eyes looking for reassurance that only I could give.

And yet, even as my heart ached with longing, I had to make peace with the choice I had made. I chose absence because it could give them presence — a safer, brighter, more secure life. I accepted the pain of missing their childhood in exchange for a future I could only dream of giving them.

Finding Strength in Solidarity

In a foreign land, often alone, I discovered the quiet power of solidarity. Other women, mothers like me, shared stories of struggle, sacrifice, and courage.

Domestic work remains one of the most undervalued sectors globally. The International Labour Organization reports that more than half of domestic workers worldwide lack legal protections, and many are excluded from minimum wage laws, limits on working hours, or social security protections.

Together, we found strength we never knew we had. We lifted each other up, spoke for those who could not speak, and created a community that became our lifeline.

In 2011, the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (C189) marked a historic recognition that domestic workers are entitled to the same rights as other workers — including fair pay, reasonable working hours and protection from abuse.

However, the UK has not ratified C189. As a result, domestic workers here do not benefit from the full set of protections and international accountability standards set out in the Convention. While existing UK employment laws offer some safeguards, significant gaps remain — particularly for migrant domestic workers — leaving many vulnerable to exploitation and with limited access to effective remedies.

It was through this bond that I found my voice — first to protect myself, then to advocate for others. My journey from unseen domestic worker to union leader taught me that even in the deepest loneliness, resilience and unity can transform lives.

From Invisible to Invincible

Every International Women’s Day, we celebrate women’s achievements. But the women I see as true heroes are those who endure quietly, who sacrifice without recognition, who keep dreaming even when life is hardest.

Women perform over three-quarters of the world’s unpaid care work, according to global gender data from the United Nations. Paid domestic workers often fill the care gaps that allow economies to function — yet their work remains socially and economically undervalued.

My story is only one among millions.

Step by step, surrounded by kindred spirits, I grew stronger. I learned that love sometimes demands the deepest sacrifices, that absence can be an act of devotion, and that even guilt can coexist with hope.

Honouring Every Woman’s Journey

Today, I am speaking up for domestic workers and help improve policies, I carry with me not only my own story but the shared stories of countless women who work tirelessly, make unimaginable sacrifices, and continue to dream against the odds.

On International Women’s Day, let us honour every woman’s journey — mothers who miss moments to give their children a future, daughters who cross borders to chase dreams, and sisters who lift others as they rise.

Let us see and value them, especially those whose stories are often unheard.

Because love sometimes means giving up the moments you long for, so that the people you cherish most can have the life you always hoped for them. And in that sacrifice, there is a quiet, unshakable kind of power.

To all the noble mothers and courageous women out there: you are seen, you are valued, and your journey matters.