Access for domestic workers to labour and social protection : an analysis of policies in 34 European countries : 2024

Increasing attention has recently been paid to the situation of domestic workers at European Union (EU) level. The European Parliament, social partners and stakeholders have called on the European Commission to improve the working conditions and social protection of domestic workers within the limits of its Treaty competence. Domestic workers provide support services to households, including care (e.g. childcare or long-term care (LTC) for older people and for people with disabilities) and non-care activities (e.g. cleaning or cooking). At EU level, the concept of "domestic workers" has, for a decade, often been approached through the wider concept of "personal and household services (PHS) workers". Domestic workers are often hired in non-standard forms of employment (including part-time, temporary employment and platform work), with frequently more limited access to social and labour protection. In some countries, self-employment is also widespread in the sector. In addition, undeclared work is an overarching issue among domestic workers, which undermines the social and labour protection rights of the workers concerned. Domestic work involves professions that are often listed as subject to shortages; for example, LTC workers. Domestic workers often acquire skills through their hands-on tasks, but it remains a challenge to have these skills validated and certified to facilitate access to more qualified work.