This article examines the regulation of domestic care work in Italy; focusing on three key dimensions: the extensive deregulation of the ordinary labour law framework; the widespread incidence of irregular employment; and the presence of labour exploitation. The first part analyses the legal framework governing domestic care workers assisting non-self-sufficient persons; highlighting the reduced protection deriving from the “subtractive” legislative technique and discussing critical issues concerning health and safety and working time. The second part explores the socio-economic context of the sector and investigates the causes and consequences of irregular employment and labour exploitation affecting family assistants. The study ultimately reflects on the need to recalibrate the regulatory framework in order to ensure more adequate protection for domestic care workers.
University of Florence, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-1398-776X
University of Florence, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-3548-8806
Chapter Title
Domestic Care Work in Italy: The Work of Family Carers Between Irregularity and Exploitation
Authors
William Chiaromonte, Giulia Frosecchi
Language
English
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4.12
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2026
Copyright Information
© 2026 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
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