It is not a hobby, it is an economy: The fight for the Caregiver Law
Imagine this: you, your friends, your cousins, your mothers. The one who stays in the care of the elderly member of the family, the one who picks up the children from school because her “flexible” schedule stretches like gum, the one who juggles teleworking and the grocery list. Now multiply it by millions. That, dear readers, is not just “helping at home”; It is the care economy, a gigantic and invisible workforce that supports the country and that, spoiler alert, does not have even a measly legal recognition. But apparently, in Nuevo León they got tired of this soap opera of injustice.
It turns out that Martha Herrera González, the head of the state’s Secretariat of Equality and Inclusion (yes, a title that sounds like a public administration superhero), has just dropped the bomb: the creation of a Caregiver Law is being promoted at the state level and lobbying at the national level. Basically, it’s like they’re finally going to put subtitles on a movie that everyone watches but no one officially recognizes. The goal is clear: to support people – who, you guessed it, the overwhelming majority are women – dedicated to the care of older adults, people with disabilities and even minors.
The news came in a rather fancy setting: the delivery of recognition by the Senate of the Republic and the District Organization for Women in the World. An event where they celebrated 19 women and 4 men from all over the country who, instead of waiting for things to magically change, put on the t-shirt (or the blazer, which looks better for photos) to promote empowerment, protection and the fight for equality. Martha Herrera, with her newly released recognition, declared that the objective is “to continue building networks to work in a coordinated manner.” In other words, go from “how nice it is to support each other” to “concrete battle plan”, because sorority memes are fine, but laws are better.
Progress is slow, like internet with a bad signal
In the interview, the official was clearer than a tutorial on TikTok. He recognized that in Nuevo León there is advances in political representation, with parity in the three powers of the state. Sounds good, right? Like there are more women at the table. But, and there is always a bigger but than a Netflix series, the most important thing is missing: substantive equality. That is, what is said in the speeches is translated into real life, especially in the private sector.
That’s where things get crazy. Because what’s the point of having parity in government if the wage gap remains as wide as a ravine and women shoulder 70% of the unpaid care work in the country. It’s as if they gave you a management position but charged you for the air conditioning in the office. Martha Herrera said it bluntly: we must reduce the income inequality gap and push for a state and national care system. Come on, taking care of others cannot be a hobby that you do after your 8-hour workday.
The proposal for the Caregivers Law is, in essence, a monumental change of chip. It is about care being recognized as a right, both for those who receive it and for those who provide it. It involves training and professionalizing caregivers, because yes, dear business owners, caring is a skill that requires knowledge, patience and strategy, not just “maternal instinct.” In addition, it promotes self-care for these women (which is not a luxury, it is a basic need) and advocates for real access to daycare centers and care centers. Basically, it is building the foundation so that society does not fall apart.
What is happening in Nuevo León is a first step, a “hold my mic” aimed at the rest of the country. It is the recognition that without a fair and formalized care economy, the famous “work-life balance” is just an advertising slogan. The fight is no longer just for a space in the office, but for valuing the work that makes it possible for someone to go out to that same office.
Do you think this law is the change we need?Share this note to make visible the importance of those who take care of us every day and explore more content on labor rights and equality in our social policy section.
