Central-American Domestic Workers and the Case of ASTRADOMES

As is true in most regions, Central American domestic workers have historically experienced limited rights. Cultural patterns and strong social class divisions reinforce the view that domestic work (largely performed by women) is a “different type” of work and that labor protections should not apply.

This conversation looks at the work of ASTRADOMES (Association of Domestic Workers), a nongovernmental organization located in Costa Rica and primarily composed of migrant Central-American women, which has advocated for the rights of female workers for over 20 years and continues to be one of the most influential actors in the field of domestic workers’ rights.