Martindale Center- Policy Briefs on the Future of Work

Mitigating the Effects of COVID-19 on Wage Earnings for Female Domestic Workers in the Informal Economy in Ecuador and Brazil 40 are only a few hundred installations in Google Play Store, and it is not available in the App Store. Social media is an- other tool that is beneficial in educating domestic workers of their rights and spreading awareness of the realities that many domestic workers face, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Brazil, a series of cartoon comics were shared on Instagram to raise awareness about the lives of domestic workers (Global Voices). Many domestic workers were financially impacted by the pandemic because they could not work due to health concerns or lockdownmeasures; thus, loss or reduction of employment is one of their primary concerns. Policy efforts to replace lost jobs due to the pandemic could be introduced by the govern- ments of Ecuador and Brazil. Retraining domestic workers is another possible policy, one that would enhance the skill sets of domestic workers, en- abling them to perform high-quality work, thus increasing their hireability and potentially even wages. Another policy option to address this issue would be the use of government subsidies. These subsidies could come in the form of economic relief, grants, or tax credits. Measures tak- en in Germany, where low monthly wages do not require a contribution to social insurance, could alleviate wage loss for workers in low wage categories. Other policies, like ones used in the United States, allow workers in low wage categories to qualify for refundable tax credits, creating an opportunity for the workers to support themselves and alleviate hardship (Packard et al.). Such policies would help female domestic workers in both Brazil and Ecuador come out of the shadow economy and become eligible to receive unemployment bene- fits and other forms of government social protection to battle the harsh economic burden caused by the pandemic. Conclusion and Recommendations Given that there are policies and regulations already in place aiming to formalize the domestic employment sector in both Ecuador and Brazil, a new approach to alleviate the policy barriers previously mentioned, and the most feasible and helpful first step in combating the current COVID-19– related problems domestic workers face, would be to create a web-based hub for resources. Such a website would have the advantage of providing a single location that is compatible with COVID-19 restrictions on social interaction. Individual tabs would be designed to provide specific resources and work toward fixing different problems that the women face. A “COVID-19 resources” tab would provide the women with information and resources to prevent COVID-19 spread, as this population of workers is already more vulnerable to exposure due to the nature of their jobs. An “information” tab would be structured to empower the women and push accountability for the employers, another problem encountered. Another tab on this website could focus on “vocational training.” Many domestic workers in Ecuador and Brazil do not have additional training, putting these workers at a disadvantage if their employment is lost. This tab would help women become multidimensional workers and find value in the skills they already have. Next, would be a “marketplace” tab. Without a company or an online platform, connecting domestic workers with potential employers can be difficult, especially in this sector, where word of mouth is the primary source of employment. In addition, implementation of the “marketplace” tab would provide an opportunity to place more power in the hands of the workers. This tab would not only work to combat job loss but also encourage accountability for employers. A “connect with the community” tab would work against the lack of representation domestic workers have in their communities and aims to unify this workforce. Finally, subsidies for those who sign up not only would help with lost wages but also would provide an incentive for workers to sign up for the website. To put this into practice, a private tech company with NGO partners and government grants would be the best combination. This recommended website hub would provide information about and access to programs developed in response to the above proposed policy options. Collectively, the proposed policy solutions, interfaced through such a hub, would work to alleviate job loss, lack of representation and information, single dimensionality of workers, and loss of wages, some of the most detrimental problems that plague female domestic workers in Ecuador and Brazil, especially during the COVID-19 crisis period. References 1. Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP). Relief for Informal Workers: Falling through the Cracks in COVID-19. August 2020. 2. Ecuador Unemployment Rate. Trading Economics , December 2019.