Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of household maids in Latin America, were furloughed due to the global pandemic without receiving their salary. Two reasons for their death could be the virus or hunger.


Maids in Latin America

Millions of families not only in the United States but also in Latin America depend on their household chores and entrust their babies and elderlies to their household maids. Most of them are paid $4 a day with no benefits.

They are one of the sectors that are hit by this global pandemic because families who belong to the middle class have to let go of their workers due to financial constraints.

This means that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of families of the household maids, are now starving to death, most especially those who only depend on them.

In 2018, an Oscar-winning movie, "Roma," showed the world about the life of domestic helpers. Some have to sleep in rooms located at the roof of their employers while others are renting a room. It was also shown in the movie on how they took care of their employer's children more than themselves.

Now, these situations are becoming worse. Those who stayed in their employers' homes can no longer leave the house due to the fear that they may catch the virus outside. Additionally, they are loaded with more responsibilities as more members of families are staying. Meaning, there are more cleanings to do.

Meanwhile, thousands of those who are renting a house are notified not to come back anymore because of the same reason. Employers are afraid that they might be carrying the virus.


A Nationwide Survey Regarding Housemaids in Brazil

Household maids became a very trending topic in Brazil. Brazilian actress Maite Proenca posted a humorous video of her giving instructions about how to use the vacuum who use it for the first time. She said that everyone needs to value those who are doing it daily and recommend to pay them continually.

Recently, a survey was conducted in Brazil, which was initiated by Locamotiva. Around 1,131 people participated in the nationwide poll during mid-April. The study revealed that 39 percent of employers furloughed their maids without paying them.

Meanwhile, additional results of the study revealed that the same percentage of household maids in the country where employers still allow their maids to work and continually pay them. At the same time, almost a quarter still has with them their maids working while the rest chose to stop due to COVID-19.


Maids in Mexico

In Mexico, household maids who are stuck in their employers' houses have more workloads from families who now stay at home with the same pay. Some of the employers are not allowing their maids to go out to visit their children or to visit a doctor.

One of the household maids, who chose not to be named, said: "Today I feel very bad, so I asked for permission to go to the hospital. My employer said I couldn't go. She said, 'Don't you remember, we can't go out?' But she still has people coming in to visit her. How is that a quarantine?"

Meanwhile, the National Union of Domestic Workers has complained already that there are employers who are asking their workers to use more aggressive chemicals in disinfecting their house. An example of this is chlorine bleach, which is mixed with other chemicals that can release toxic vapors.

The Union said that if this pandemic will continue there are only two reasons why household maids will die. It is either the virus or hunger.


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