Domestic labor drives higher school dropout rates for girls

Data from the 2024 National Household Survey (Enhogar), conducted by the National Statistics Office, indicates that domestic labor is a significant factor in school dropout rates among girls. According to the report, 8.6% of girls who left school did so because they were required to perform household chores, compared to only 0.4% of boys.

Carlos Carrera Cordón, the UNICEF representative for the country, noted that the issue is not the assistance girls provide, but rather the excessive and disproportionate burden assigned based on gender. This workload often displaces essential activities such as schooling, adequate sleep, play, and sports, particularly in households with children under five or elderly members requiring care.