CACEH Launches Tool to Track Labor Conditions of Domestic Workers

Mexico’s National Center for Professional Training and Leadership of Domestic Workers (CACEH) introduced the Dignómetro, a tool designed to evaluate labor conditions for domestic workers and identify risks in a sector long defined by informality. The release marks a new phase in the organization’s 25-year effort to strengthen labor standards and provide employers and workers with practical guidance to comply with the law.

CACEH says the Dignómetro intends to measure whether a household or employer meets minimum criteria for dignified work, including written contracts, fair pay, paid rest, social security registration, and protections against workplace violence. “We just launched a Dignómetro to measure dignified work — to identify when rights are at risk and when workers may be in danger,” says Marcelina Bautista, Founder and Director, CACEH, to MBN. She adds that the tool also helps workers understand various forms of mistreatment. “When mistreatment becomes more severe, such as sexual harassment or even assault, the tool helps workers understand the kinds of violence they may face on the job.”

The launch reflects the trajectory of a movement that began with grassroots organizing in Mexico City. Bautista founded CACEH after observing the systemic discrimination affecting the sector. Early meetings took place in public parks, eventually growing into regular gatherings of dozens of workers seeking guidance on contracts, dismissals, benefits, and agency-driven exploitation. The organization’s advocacy contributed to major policy milestones, including Mexico’s 2019 labor reform recognizing domestic work, the 2021 ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 189 and the 2023 rule requiring employers to register domestic workers with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from the first day of employment.

Despite these advances, informality remains persistent. CACEH estimates that fewer than 5% of domestic workers are enrolled in IMSS, despite mandatory registration. The organization attributes this to cultural resistance, limited awareness, and financial constraints for both employers and workers. Many households continue to treat domestic work as informal help, while workers often lack information on benefits or fear conflict when requesting formalization. Bautista says cultural factors are central: “Domestic workers often spend years waiting for the right moment to talk to their employer — when they will be listened to, when the employer is in a good mood. The years go by like that.”

The Dignómetro is designed to reduce these barriers by providing a clear benchmark for employers. CACEH also created an employer manual with instructions for drafting contracts, understanding obligations, and improving communication in the household. The organization emphasizes the importance of preserving seniority, noting that contracts can be retroactive even when social security enrollment is not. Bautista says many workers lose decades of seniority when their hours are reduced over time. 

The Dignómetro complements CACEH’s digital platform Dignas, a free application offering benefit calculators, contract templates, and orientations on IMSS enrollment. While the mobile version is undergoing updates, the tools remain available through the organization’s website. “The application is free,” Bautista says. “If people search for ‘Dignas calculadora,’ the calculators appear immediately.”

The broader context reflects structural inequalities facing domestic workers in Mexico. The workforce, estimated at more than 2 million people, is predominantly female. National wage data shows average daily pay for women in household roles at MX$386.60 (US$21.26), compared with MX$471 (US$25.90) for men performing similar service functions. Advocates say domestic workers also face high exposure to psychosocial stress, physical strain, and various forms of workplace violence. National surveys indicate that 3.7 million minors performed domestic labor under unsafe conditions in 2022, especially girls, shaping expectations that domestic work does not require formal protections.

CACEH expects anonymized results from the Dignómetro to support training programs and policy recommendations. The organization is seeking stronger collaboration with the private sector, which it describes as an essential stakeholder. Bautista says business support often emphasizes visibility but does not always translate into compliance. She argues that private-sector involvement in formalization, digital training, and organizational development could help expand the reach of tools like the Dignómetro and strengthen the care economy.

As CACEH marks 25 years of advocacy, the organization describes the Dignómetro as a step toward measurable accountability. “Now we can measure dignity,” Bautista says. “We can see where rights are being respected and where they are being denied.” CACEH aims to make the diagnostic a standard practice for employers, supporting a long-term transition from informal labor arrangements to a system grounded in transparency, rights, and enforceable protections.