This short paper is drawn from research (MA thesis) I undertook in 2009, in partial fulilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Development Studies at the Kimmage Development Stud ies Centre, Dublin. The paper relects on the topic – conditions of work for adult female live-in paid domestic workers in Addis Ababa . The research attempted to explore, understand and analyse the co nditions of work for this category of workers. Data was collected fr om seven adult female live-in paid domestic workers in Addis Ababa and the contents of relevant government regulations were also review ed to support primary data. Based on the research undertaken in Addis Ababa, th is paper highlights exploitative conditions of work similar to other experiences documented worldwide. Speciic to the research locat ion the indings emphasised the very nature of the customary duty, i .e. ‘general housework’, given to live-in domestic workers as be ing at the centre of the exploitative conditions of work experienced by this category of workers. In addition, the research strongly sugg ested and this paper argues that the draft regulation that is bein g proposed in this area needs to be reviewed. This review needs to con sider the real life experiences of live-in domestic workers in relation to: job descriptions; hours of work a day, meal intervals, leave periods (weekly, annual and maternal); freedom of movement; freedom of associat ion; privacy; food and accommodation; and the assignment of responsibl e bodies and grievance procedures. Furthermore, this paper highl ights the need for awareness raising for both employers and workers.