Introduction

For Michelle Obama, “The only limit to the height of your achievements is the scope of your dreams and your willingness to work hard to realize them”. Work is rewarding for the person doing it. They may or may not have a degree. In most African countries, particularly Burkina Faso, domestic staff have no specific qualifications, but their role is indispensable. So, what is the impact of domestic staff on a family? The impact is positive in a number of ways, namely in terms of work done, family support and education.

The professionalism of the house staff

Domestic staff may be recruited via specialised agencies depending on the employee’s status and the work to be done. However, modest families are less concerned about this formality. All it takes is knowing someone in the village who needs or is looking for work. The following week, the person in question returns to or is taken to the employer’s home or residence. It is noticeable that these employees, generally young girls, are poorly qualified, but learn quickly and do a remarkable job. They wake up early and go to bed when their work is done. Minor blunders may occur, but they make arrangements with employers to avoid being sent back to their home villages. At this stage, their role in the family becomes essential.

The role of the household staff in the host family

Housekeepers become members of the host family. Indeed, they get involved in all events, from births, weddings and christenings to graduations and deaths. What’s more, some employers also get involved in the lives of their employees. A big family is thus created that transcends social, ethnic and cultural differences. Similarly, most employees, especially young girls, take care of their employers’ children and contribute to their education. In fact, education in the city and education in the village are very different. The blending of these two types of education is a godsend for the child, enabling him or her to get to know different cultures, habits and customs, thus fostering a broad open-mindedness. This creates harmony and understanding within the families concerned. In some cases, the relationship between employer and employee continues even after the contract has ended. Some employees keep in touch and maintain their ties.

Conclusion

Housekeepers play a crucial role in the home. These individuals work with families they don’t know in order to provide for and support their own families. With little apparent professionalism from the outset, these employees become full-fledged members of the families where they work, contributing to the children’s education. With a view to enhancing the value of this noble profession, it is essential that authorities consider legal measures to protect these workers, raise their awareness and promote them in order to avoid abuses of which they are often the silent victims.