A Study of Peruvian Domestic Workers and Their Labor Opportunities in Santiago, Chile

Because of the poor economic climate of Peru, Chile is receiving an influx of Peruvian immigrants who are seeking shelter in the economic center of Santiago. Marginalization, racism, and poverty make it hard for these Peruvian immigrants to integrate into Chilean society and, as a result, they have formed separate migrant communities. For the Peruvian immigrant, these communities provide their only space for political participation, civic and cultural activities. But they cannot provide for the economic development of the community itself. The problems facing the population of immigrant Peruvian domestic workers are difficult to solve because they stem from a number of factors. To investigate their problems, this paper uses data gathered through formal and informal interviews, and through participant observation of an immigrant-centered NGO, all conducted in Santiago, Chile, in July 2010. The paper focuses on Peruvian women who are working as “Nanas” or domestics and examines their labor opportunities in Santiago. The paper argues that domestic work does not provide Peruvian workers with decent working conditions or livable wages. Therefore, Peruvian women must seek help from three different avenues: the transnational communities they live in, the NGOs who work with the communities to find jobs, and the Chilean government itself.