Trends in paid domestic work in Brazil under a context of crises

Abstract

Paid domestic work is a highly significant activity for the female workforce in Brazil. The profile of these workers is characterized by the intersection of gender, race, and class, being historically carried out by black and low-income women, often earning low wages. Between the mid-1990s and 2014, there were significant changes in the profile and conditions of domestic work in Brazil, marked by improvements in wages and working hours. Moreover, the approval of the “Domestic Workers’ Law”, in 2015, anticipated a broader transformation. However, between 2015 and 2022, a series of political, economic, and sanitary crises, along with major institutional reforms, led to a deterioration of the labor market, which also affected domestic work. This paper aims to analyze the dynamics of paid domestic work in Brazil within the context of successive crises by contrasting its main trends with those observed in the two preceding decades. The methodology includes documentary research and a descriptive analysis based on PNAD, PNAD Contínua, and PED data. The study concludes that, in addition to the continuity of some trends observed in the previous period, the effects of the crises have outweighed legislative advancements and exacerbated the vulnerability of domestic workers.