Until a few decades ago, most of the countries in the Americas and the Caribbean had outdated laws, which responded more to sexism, racism, classism, than to the ideas and rights of today's societies.
Domestic workers have been legally discriminated against, with longer hours and lower wages than other types of employment, with restrictions to access other labor rights such as social security, payment of overtime, premiums, and bonuses, among many others.
Even though things began to change in the 1990s thanks to the efforts made by feminist organizations, associations of domestic workers, unions and international organizations, different oppressions continue to limit and condition the quality of life of Domestic Workers:
13,8%
of economically active women in Latin America are domestic workers.
80%
of domestic workers are in the informal economy.
26,6%
are covered by contributory social security.
The start of working life at such an early age and the extended working hours prevent many domestic workers from fulfilling themselves professionally:
38,3%
have not finished their primary studies.
57%
have primary and secondary studies.
4,7%
have more than 13 years of study.
Physical and psychological violence in domestic employment is particularly important, given the difficulty of access to places of employment by control entities, the lack of information and awareness, and the lack of specific mechanisms for complaint, investigation and punishment.
8 out of 10 domestic workers
report having suffered some type of violence at work