Acts redundantly with ceh-20 and ceh-40 to perform overlapping roles during embryogenesis. Required for postembryonic development of the ectoderm, including the Q, V and P cell lineages, playing a crucial role in ensuring that these cells and their descendants undergo their invariant patterns of cell division, migration, fusion and morphogenesis. Has a role in the mig-13 pathway to promote anterior migration of neuroblasts in the Q lineage. Required for multiple roles in regulating vulva development (By similarity). Belongs to the TALE/MEIS homeobox family.