Discover the intricacies of labor law as it pertains to employers and domestic helpers
Question 1:
How does the law regulate the obligations of domestic workers?
Answer 1:
Article 164 of the 2019 Labor Code, effective from January 1, 2021, stipulates the obligations of employees who are domestic workers as follows:
1. Fully implement the agreements entered into in the labor contract.
2. Must compensate as agreed or prescribed by law if the employer’s property is damaged or lost.
3. Timely notify the employer about the possibility and risk of causing accidents, threatening the safety, health, life, property of the employer’s family and themselves.
4. Report to the competent authority if the employer commits acts of abuse, sexual harassment, forced labor or other acts that violate the law.
Question 2:
In relationships with employers, domestic workers are often considered the weaker party. To protect domestic workers, what actions does the law prohibit against employers?
Answer 2:
Article 165 of the 2019 Labor Code, effective from January 1, 2021, stipulates the following prohibited acts for employers:
1. Mistreatment, sexual harassment, forced labor, and use of force against domestic workers.
2. Assigning work to domestic workers not under a labor contract.
3. Keep the employee’s identification documents.
