The Domestic Employee In Panama: Challenges, Recognition And Rights

• Published date: 13 May 2025
• Law Firm: Icaza Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman
• Author: Estefanía Guardia Mendieta

I. General

In the Republic of Panama, as in other countries in the region, it is very common to hire domestic employees to assist with household care.

The domestic employee provides a personal service, since he/she assists in the tasks proper or inherent to a person's or a family's home. This includes housekeeping, cleaning, ironing, gardening and cooking activities, as well as the tasks carried out by the "nannies" or those who take care of young children or elderly adults, and the chauffeurs.

In domestic work there is no profit-making interest on the part of the employer; in fact, those who hires domestic services does not do so with the aim of obtaining a profit based on these services but do so for the benefit of their own family and household needs.

Domestic work is important for a country's economy as it allows other people to work outside the home, while others take care of household chores.

This boosts the economy and creates a greater flow of capital, since hiring a person – a domestic employee – to take care of household chores, in addition to generating employment, in turn allows the person who develops professionally outside the domestic sphere to engage on their work full time.

II. Regulation In Panama

The Labor Code of the Republic of Panama regulates matters relating to domestic work. Article 230 defines it as employees who provide, on a regular and continuous basis, housekeeping, assistance, or other services typical of the home of a person or the family members.

We can highlight...