An operating unit for a domestic appliance has a touch-sensitive unit and an LED unit positioned on the rear thereof. The touch-sensitive unit is formed with a diffuser foil which has a top side, facing an operator, provided with a printed character layer and an underside, directed away therefrom, provided with a printed functional layer. This leads to a simpler structure of the operating unit with a smaller number of components, which permits a cost-optimized manufacturing process, and also a higher display contrast with the simultaneous reduction of undesirable reflection effects.