Low Insurance Coverage among Domestic Workers in Guanajuato Despite Reforms

In Guanajuato there were 1,873 domestic workers registered in the IMSS to September of this year.

But according to the National Survey of Occupation and Employment of the Inegi There were actually 215 thousand people employed in paid domestic work in the state. That is, less than 1 percent were insured.

This, despite the reform to the Social Security Law which since October 2022 incorporated that domestic workers must have Social Security.

Socorro Godínez goes three days a week to do domestic work in a house and is happy because she has had insurance for two months.

“I never thought I would have that insurance, I thought, one day I get sick, what am I going to do? The medicine is very expensive, I don’t have money, but thank God, for two months now, I already have my insurance.” ”.

At the national level there are nine women domestic workers for every man, their average ages are 44 years for women and 43 for men.

Domestic work activities include domestic cleaning, cooking, gardening, caring for people, driving, washing and ironing, as well as security and porter service.

Socorro, 44 ​​years old, is one of the few beneficiaries not only in the state but in the country: as of September 2023, there were 61,616 domestic workers affiliated with the IMSS in Mexico.

In Guanajuato, as of February 2023 there were 1,622, and in six months 251 were added, to reach 1,873.

“I liked that they took us into account to help us when we are sick, that they give us pensions, daycare. I wish they would give them to all the people who work in homes.”

“I have not gone to register for insurance, due to lack of time, but I will gladly go so that when, God forbid, I am sick, I can go for my medications and my studies,” said Socorro Godinez.

In addition to medical, hospital and medication services, domestic workers may access disability due to general illness or work accident; also, in case of disability or death, they give the right to a pension.

And by affiliating these workers, we contribute to providing health protection to the person’s family unit.

María Angélica Rodríguez also works in a house; She goes two days a week for five hours.

She has IMSS from her husband but would like to have her own record.

“My husband is already grown up, it would be nice to have one, for yourself.”

Regarding how she could raise her need to provide insurance to her employer, Adriana said: “You see that when you work at home they don’t support you, when you are in factories, well yes, you pay for everything, but at home it is not the same.” .

Regarding the obligation for employers to affiliate their domestic staff, something established in the law, Angélica responded “but the employers don’t look at it that way, because just a bruise, a cut, or something – the IMSS is necessary – ”, he concluded.

HEP