Migrant Domestic Workers Struggle with Lack of CSME Rights

Delayed implementation of regional mobility rights leaves Caribbean domestic workers vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in Trinidad and Tobago.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:53am

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A group of seven migrant domestic workers from Guyana shared their experiences of abuse, exploitation, and xenophobia while working in Trinidad and Tobago, which they directly attribute to the lack of implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that would have granted them greater labor protections and mobility rights. Despite domestic workers being approved as a category under the CSME over a decade ago, the Trinidadian government failed to put mechanisms in place to facilitate their movement, leaving these workers unprotected and at the mercy of abusive employers who threatened deportation.

Why it matters

The stories of these migrant domestic workers illustrate the real-world consequences of the failure to fully implement regional mobility rights within CARICOM. Without legal status and access to labor protections, these workers became vulnerable to physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, as well as routine extortion by police officers demanding bribes to avoid detention. This systemic exploitation highlights how restrictive migration policies can produce harmful conditions that profit from migrant vulnerabilities.

The details

The seven women interviewed - Chet, Deo, CJ, Petal, Suzanne, Julie, and Aunty - all moved to Trinidad and Tobago from Guyana in hopes of higher wages and better opportunities after hearing that domestic workers could obtain the CSME. However, they soon realized the Trinidadian government had not put the necessary mechanisms in place. This left them without legal status, exposing them to abuse from employers who threatened deportation if they complained about working conditions or pay. The women described experiencing physical assaults, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, unpredictable wages, and long hours with no recourse. They also faced extortion from police officers conducting raids and demanding bribes to avoid detention.

  • In 2009, Aunty came to Trinidad on holiday and has not returned to Guyana since.
  • In 2018, Petal experienced a sexual assault incident at her job.
  • Over 10 years ago, CARICOM approved household domestics as a category under the CSME.

The players

Chet

A Guyanese migrant domestic worker who moved to Trinidad and Tobago after hearing domestic workers could obtain the CSME, but was told the government had not put mechanisms in place to facilitate her move.

Deo

A Guyanese migrant domestic worker who experienced physical and verbal abuse on the job in Trinidad and Tobago with no avenue to address the violence.

CJ

A Guyanese migrant domestic worker who was physically assaulted during a dispute over wages in Trinidad and Tobago, but did not report the incident for fear of further harm.

Petal

A Guyanese migrant domestic worker who experienced sexual assault, as well as routine sexist jokes, advances, and comments from employers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Suzanne

A Guyanese migrant domestic worker who moved to Trinidad and Tobago two decades before domestic workers were added to the CSME, and endured derogatory comments from employers throughout her working life.

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What they’re saying

“People have threatened to rape me, they called me names like Guyanese cockroach, they actually say these things to your face just because you are a Guyanese woman. And because they know you don't have papers so you can't do anything.”

— Petal, Migrant Domestic Worker

“I get real trouble to get the work permit. They even question my husband, asking him to confirm I ain't do he something for him to marry me. You believe immigration officers asking them type of questions so I can stay in Trinidad and get little benefits?”

— Julie, Migrant Domestic Worker

“I not even supposed to talk about this but every few months, maybe three or four months at a time the police would come with big guns to the house and ask for everybody who working there to produce their papers. I run and hide but if they hold you and you don't have your documents, you have to pay them. And they know everybody there don't have no papers, so it is strategy. If you don't have the money they would take you down to immigration for processing. But most times it's not about no law and keeping people out the country, it's about fulling the police pocket and paying to stay and work. So, we pay to stay.”

— Aunty, Guyanese Domestic Worker

What’s next

The delayed implementation of the CSME's inclusion of domestic workers as a recognized category continues to leave these migrant workers vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in Trinidad and Tobago. Advocates are calling on CARICOM and the Trinidadian government to urgently address this policy gap and establish the necessary mechanisms to protect the rights and mobility of domestic workers within the region.

The takeaway

The experiences of these migrant domestic workers illustrate how the failure to fully implement regional mobility rights can produce systemic exploitation and violence, where the state becomes complicit in maintaining harmful conditions that profit from the vulnerabilities of the most marginalized workers. Addressing this policy gap is crucial to upholding the promises of the CSME and ensuring the dignity and safety of all Caribbean migrant workers.