Maids Look to Join Chile’s Economic Miracle With New Law
Maids Look to Join Chile’s Economic Miracle With New Law
By Eduardo Thomson Sep 10, 2014 10:00 PM CT
Macarena Soto typically works more than 13 hours a day, has no set rest periods, gets six days off a month and sleeps in a small room off the kitchen in her employers’ house in Santiago, Chile.
“I have no time at all to do anything of my own,” the 33-year-old maid said by phone after getting the two children she cares for to sleep around 9 p.m and retiring to her bedroom. “I get to see my boyfriend only on weekends. We’re second class workers.”
Chile’s half a million domestic workers have been slow to benefit from economic growth averaging 5.4 percent over the past 30 years after they were bypassed by much of the labor legislation and immigration from Peru and Bolivia swelled their ranks. While wages for domestic workers have risen by more than in neighboring countries, there are still no limits on hours for live-in maids who typically have only one day a week off. Now the government says it is time to bring labor laws in Latin America’s richest nation into line with regional peers.
A bill under debate in congress will guarantee live-in maids eight days off a month, up from four. Those who live off-site will have their maximum working week cut to 45 hours from 72 over three years, the same as other workers. A new team of inspectors will ensure employers comply with the regulations.
More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-11/maids-look-to-join-chile-s-economic-miracle-with-new-law.html
About time!