Essential and unprotected. Labor situation of caregivers of older people in private homes in pandemic and post-pandemic in Mar del Plata, Argentina

Abstract

This article analyzes the labor situation in the care of older people in private homes based on qualitative research conducted in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The article addresses the extrinsic aspects of the employment relationship, intending to observe the factors that condition the labor situation and, from there, offer relevant conclusions for the design of public policies aimed at the sector. The aim is to engage in dialogue with longer-term research that compares the labor situation of different caregiving occupations, where intrinsic qualities constitute a continuum of common denominators, while extrinsic factors condition access to material, legal, and symbolic recognition of the tasks performed. The article describes the main aspects that condition the employment relationship: the different mechanisms of institutionalization - including labor registration -, working hours, organization of work schedules, occupational health, salaries, and the impact of the pandemic.