This volume collects the theoretical reflections, policy proposals and operational outcomes developed within the CARE4CARE – We Care for Those Who Care Project. Moving from an interdisciplinary perspective combining labour law, social theory and psychosocial research, the volume frames paid care work as socially essential yet historically undervalued labour, strongly shaped by gender and migration dynamics. Building on comparative findings from six EU countries, it advances proposals to improve job quality, strengthen social dialogue, prevent discrimination and support sustainable care systems, while presenting training and empowerment tools aimed at promoting the dignity and recognition of care work.
University of Florence, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-0140-4405
University of Florence, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-1398-776X
Maria Luisa Vallauri
Care Work, Care of Work. Reasons and Aims of the CARE4CARE – We Care for Those Who Care Projectpp.25-43
Agata Ludera-Ruszel, Hubert Kotarski
Global Care Chains and the Legal/Social Rights of Migrant Workers: an Interdisciplinary Inquiry into Discrimination, Industrial Relations, and Transnational Welfare Regimespp.45-80
Ferran Camas Roda, Andrea Cano Redondo
A Critical Reflection on the Need or Not for Immigration in the Care Sector: Mechanisms at the Disposal of the European Unionpp.81-103
Celia Gago Valle, Francisco José Medina Díaz, Ineé Martínez-Corts, Veronika Kuradchik Pekarskaya, Maria Dolores Burguillos Duran
Building Sustainable Institutional Care: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Healthier Work Environmentspp.105-125
Veronika Kuradchik Pekarskaya, Celia Gago Valle, Francisco José Medina Díaz, Ineé Martínez-Corts, Maria Dolores Burguillos Duran
Strengthening Home-Based Care: Practical Recommendations to Support and Value Home Health Aidespp.127-152
Isabelle Daugareilh, Guillaume Santoro, Haoussetou Traore
The Fragmentation of Care Workers’ Status Hinders the Attractiveness of Jobs in the Sector in Francepp.153-179
Isabelle Daugareilh, Haoussetou Traore
Vocational Training: an Imperfect Lever for Securing and Enhancing The Career Paths of Healthcare Workers in Francepp.181-207
Silvia Borrelli
From a Patriarchal Welfare to a DIY Welfare. A Short History of Care Workers in Italypp.209-224
William Chiaromonte, Giulia Frosecchi
Domestic Care Work in Italy: The Work of Family Carers Between Irregularity and Exploitationpp.225-259
Samuele Renzi, Michele Mazzetti
Reconstructing the Legal Architecture of the Care Sector: EU Governance, Social Dialogue, and Italian Collective Bargainingpp.261-286
Ziga Podgornik Jakil
Nursing under Pressure: Why Ensuring Adequate Staffing Levels is Crucial for Good Care and Employee Retention in German Hospitalspp.287-310
Ferran Camas Roda, Andrea Cano Redondo
Proposals on the Improvement of the Social Care Services System in Spain: Debates of Interest to the European Unionpp.311-336
Andrea Iossa, Jenny Julén Votinius
The Language of Care: a Labour Law Review of Language Requirements for Care Workers in Swedenpp.337-357
Eva Kocher
Decent Work in the Care Sector: Policy Gaps and Ways Forward. The CARE4CARE Policy paperpp.361-391
Agata Ludera-Ruszel, Hubert Kotarski, Giulia Frosecchi
Empowering Care through Training. The CARE4CARE Training Programme Model for Trade Unions, Employer Representatives and Familiespp.393-399
William Chiaromonte
An Ambitious Multilingual Platform to Improve Care Workers’ Rights. The CARE4CARE Web Platformpp.401-405
Book Title
CARE4CARE - We Care for Those Who Care - Vol. III
Book Subtitle
Building Dignified Care Work in Europe: Critical Reflections, Policy Proposals and Practical Tools
Editors
Maria Luisa Vallauri, William Chiaromonte
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
408
Publication Year
2026
Copyright Information
© 2026 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4
ISBN Print
979-12-215-1028-7
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-1029-4
eISBN (epub)
979-12-215-1030-0
Series Title
Studi sul lavoro di cura - Studies on Care Work