Domestic service is reorganized: a new regime of labor categories has been in force since July

By Agustin Miller

The domestic worker sector in Uruguay is preparing for a significant change. Starting next July, a new regime of labor categories comes into force designed to provide clarity, formalization and a more professional structure to one of the sectors with the highest level of employment in the country. The measure, which has been the subject of negotiations in the salary councils, seeks to adjust the reality of the tasks performed to the corresponding salary scales.

The premise behind this modification is simple but profound: leave behind ambiguity in tasks. Many times, the lack of a clear definition of job responsibilities generated gray areas for both the worker and the employer. With this new scheme, the catalog of tasks is segmented more precisely, allowing each role to have a salary reference appropriate to its level of specialization.

What do the changes consist of?

The new structure divides domestic work into specific categories that range from basic home maintenance to roles that involve specialized care or comprehensive management tasks. For female workers, this means greater protection and recognition of the functions they actually perform on a day-to-day basis.

For employers, the immediate challenge is fit. During the coming weeks, those who hire domestic service will have to review which category the personnel under their charge falls into. This is not just an administrative change; It is a step towards the complete formalization that the sector has been demanding for years. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) has already made the instructions available to clear up doubts and avoid errors in the settlement of salaries starting in July.

A sector that seeks professionalization

The formalization of categories is not an isolated event. It is the result of a long process of tripartite dialogue that seeks to prioritize essential work. In Uruguay, where domestic service supports the daily scaffolding of thousands of families, this reorganization is seen by many as an act of labor justice.

However, as with any transition, the success of the new regime will depend on the ability of employers to adapt and the State's monitoring to ensure compliance. Transparency in salary receipts and correct categorization not only prevent future labor lawsuits, but also dignify the link between those who offer their service and those who receive them, closing a chapter of informality that characterized the sector for decades.