Exploiting for Care: Trafficking and Abuse in Domestic Work in Italy

Care workers are now an essential part of reality for many Italian families. Yet, despite advancements in regulating domestic work, abuses are widespread. This article explores why exploitation in domestic work is rarely viewed as such and addressed with policies concerning trafficking and exploitation. I look at the way in which the care issue has been addressed by the Italian state and at the peculiar relationship between employers and domestic workers. Furthermore, I focus on the gaps in policies on trafficking and exploitation. I argue that the interplay of these factors results in the “normalization” of exploitation in domestic work.