Digital platforms in the domestic and care sector: A proposed taxonomy for Latin America and the Caribbean

Over the past decade, digital labour platforms for domestic and care services have become increasingly prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean, albeit with varying degrees of expansion across different national contexts. Unlike in the delivery or passenger transportation sectors, one of the most notable features of digital labour platforms in this sector is the variety of business models in use. This has profound implications for the way workers are hired, and therefore for their working conditions and access to social protection. This paper, based on an analysis of online information about companies in the sector and a compilation of case studies from the region, aims to shed light on this phenomenon. Firstly, it presents a proposal for classifying the different models of digital intermediation of domestic service in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the type of contractual relationship established with workers. Secondly, the analysis illustrates how each identified platform category impacts workers' access to formalisation, social protection, and labour rights in general. Finally, the paper reflects on the challenges posed by this diversity and complexity in terms of the regulatory needs of these new forms of digital intermediation within the sector.