¿Más de lo mismo? Condiciones laborales de las trabajadoras del hogar en las plataformas digitales en México

Abstract

While digital platforms that connect domestic workers with employers have proliferated over the past two decades, academic research on this phenomenon remains limited. These platforms have the potential to improve working conditions in the sector, however, they often seem to perpetuate the job insecurity that has historically characterized domestic work. This article explores whether the working conditions of domestic workers on digital platforms differ significantly from traditional ones. Based on 24 interviews with workers in Mexico, it examines four key aspects of their conditions: (i) hours and schedule flexibility; (ii) workload; (iii) income and benefits; and (iv) discrimination, violence, and harassment. The findings reveal incremental improvements in the conditions of digital workers but no significant break from the historical precariousness. The article is intended to enrich the emerging literature on platforms dedicated to domestic work, especially in the context of the global south and Latin America, where they have received little attention so far. It focuses on the in-person employment relationship between workers and their employers, which has been little explored in previous research. The study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of labor dynamics in this emerging work modality and highlights the need for labor regulations that include domestic workers connected through digital platforms.