Mexico re-examines role of domestic workers
318 views · Published 25 December 2018 · 2:42 · Indexed 6 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(20 Dec 2018) Mexican society is examining the role that domestic help plays in the country and the working conditions for its mostly female labour force. Extended hours and low wages have long dogged Mexican domestic workers, nine out of 10 of whom are women. While many go home at night, plenty more are live-in servants. Mexican labour laws establish a maximum 48-hour, six-day work week. But domestic workers fall into a grey area, with many putting in 12-hour days. Domestic workers are in ample supply in a country where half the population of about 125 million lives in poverty, and it's common for middle class families to employ one or more full- or part-time workers. But labour laws are set to improve for the workers under new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office December 1. The Supreme Court ruled on December 5 that Mexico's more than 2 million domestic workers should be enrolled in the social security system, offering them more rights and access to the public health system and free, government-run daycare. Maria Isidra Llanos, 52, has been cleaning homes and caring for children of other women since she was 15. She says, at one of her first jobs, she recalls working until midnight because the workload was so heavy. "I had to eat standing up," she says, "there was no time to sit down." Viviana Lopez, 38, is shadowing little Teo in the garden of his home as he celebrates his third birthday - a typical scene for affluent parts of Mexico. Lopez lives with Teo's family of four in Mexico City, taking every other weekend off. Her own 9-year-old son is under the care of her parents in a town two and a half hours from the capital. Lopez has has been working as a nanny for the past 15 years. "It's a great responsibility, but I find it satisfying," she said. Jimena Gomez, her employer, said she's extremely grateful for the help with her children and she thanks Lopez daily. Gomez herself works part-time in marketing, which is when she relies most heavily on Lopez for help. But she believes relationships between matriarchs and domestic workers are improving. Lopez gets paid time off and an annual year-end bonus that's standard for Mexican workers in the social security system. Gomez said she completely supports domestic employees being enrolled in the national social security system. "It is a very dignified job," she said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b2f982bc60cc37e5bab91c1810a8717a
