Digital Platforms for Care and Domestic Services in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Initial Analysis of the Business Model and It’s Role in the Formalization of the Sector

Abstract

Numerous digital labour platforms have emerged across various Latin American countries, connecting users with domestic services and care for children, the elderly, and dependents. Despite this growth, regulatory debates have largely ignored the digitalization of this sector, and there is a lack of research documenting the impact of these new technologies in the region. The purpose of this article is to enhance the existing body of knowledge on the platform economy in Latin America and the Caribbean with two main objectives: firstly, to provide an initial mapping of the platforms operating in the domestic and home care services; and secondly, to analyze the potential role these digital platforms can play in formalizing the labor market for workers in these sectors.