Within and Without the Margins of Labor Law. Digital Intermediaries on Domestic Work in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.

POBLETE, LORENA

Varsovia

Congreso; Labour Law Research Network Conference 6; 2023

Labour Law Research Network LLRN

Since 2015, in Latin America—particularly in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Mexico—digital intermediaries providing recruitment and matching services in the domestic and care work sector have been developing. Digital intermediaries propose two different types of working arrangements. On the one hand, there are those that promote the hiring of domestic workers as self-employed workers for a few hours per week (less than 8 hours) and, on the other hand, those that offer services in all working time arrangements (live-in, full-time, part-time, and hourly work) assuming the signing of an employment contract between the employer and the domestic worker. A comparison of these four countries shows that, although the digital intermediaries in the domestic and care work sector have common characteristics (fast hiring, selected staff, use of electronic means of payment), they develop different business models due, on the one hand, to the limits and possibilities of the current legislation on domestic work and, on the other hand, to the characteristics of the sector, in particular the levels of informality. Thus, the regulatory frameworks and the configuration of the sector in each country condition the different ways in which this type of digital intermediary intervene and develop.