Child labor in domestic work is on the rise

The 2025 National Survey on Child Labor conducted by Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reveals an alarming situation in the country, where millions of girls, boys, and adolescents perform domestic labor under inadequate and hazardous conditions. This figure represents the highest rate recorded in the past decade, highlighting that child labor is not confined to the streets but is hidden within households, particularly affecting children’s education and health due to exposure to toxic substances and excessive workloads. The data underscore that economic precariousness and hunger are the primary drivers of this problem, with a clear gender bias that concentrates these tasks on girls. Geographically, the phenomenon is most acute in rural areas and among Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations in the southern regions of the country, where poverty forces young people to contribute to their families’ livelihoods. Disproportionate inflation in basic food items and parental unemployment further exacerbate this dynamic, demonstrating that lack of resources is the critical determinant for the economic survival of vulnerable households. This report is crucial for the open data sector because it provides rigorous, disaggregated statistical evidence necessary to design effective public policies. The transparency of this information enables academics, human rights advocates, and international organizations to analyze structural causes, monitor trends, and demand concrete actions. By making visible the hidden realities of child domestic labor, open data facilitates accountability and guides the allocation of resources toward scholarships and support programs that enable children to remain in school.

Source: eluniversal.com.mx
Published on 2026-10-23

Child labor in domestic work is on the rise

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