Brussels, 8 March 2010 - For the modern day slave, her shackles are not made of metal, but of psychological, physical and sexual exploitation. Domestic work in countries across the world is mostly done by women and in particular by migrant women, who are frequently trafficked, exploited and abused but rarely benefit from any form of legal protection. 

This problem is further compounded by the fact that their workplace is generally in people’s homes and thus is difficult to detect.  Apart from the risk of abuse, domestic workers have no social security protection, are overworked and underpaid. Many fear their employers’ reprisals if they complain to the authorities and thus continue to live as modern slaves.

A fair and equitable formal relationship between employer and employee must be established also within the domain of domestic care work.  The regulation of such work could be envisaged through the creation of home care service providers. For Caritas Europa the concept of home care includes health care as well as personal and household assistance.

In this European Year 2010 against Poverty and Social Exclusion, Caritas Europa calls for the inclusion of domestic work in the regular labour market.  Domestic work has to be recognised as a form of work and labour legislation should apply to this vulnerable group of workers in particular. 

Caritas recognises an increasing demand for domestic or home care service provision yet legal migratory channels for this sector are inexistent in many countries. Therefore, Caritas insists on the necessity to create channels for legal labour migration for domestic workers who migrate.

We also call for the creation of a legislation regulating the provision of home care services by service providers, including non-profit organisations. This could improve the working conditions of home care workers as well as the quality and affordability of home care services.

For further information please contact:
Saorlaith Ni Bhroin
Assistant Migration Office
Caritas Europa
Te l : +32 2 235 0396
Email : snibhroin@caritas-europa.org

For further information on the Caritas Europa European Year 2010 campaign:
Visit the Zero Poverty website: http://www.zeropoverty.org/en