Work culture and migrant women's welfare marginalization

Abstract

Central to this paper is the relationship between work and welfare marginalization ofmigrant women domestic workers. Based upon the findings of a recent (2005-2007)research study on Albanian and Ukrainian domestic workers’ access to socialinsurance, medical and children’s care (i.e. nurseries, kindergartens), the paper claimsthat welfare barriers are constituted around lack of resources, discriminations as well asconditions and values at work.At the highest level of generality, paid domestic work is considered part of aneconomic activity that is increasingly difficult to relate with the official state policiesand welfare provisions, because of its fluid and personalized work conditions.However, the typical processes, routes followed, and set of ideas developed by migrantwomen in domestic work in order e.g to maintain employability, necessitate theadoption of practices and values which sustain and enhance existing welfare barriers tothe above mentioned services.The first part of the paper explores the role of low status jobs in welfare ideas andpractices. The second part refers to the case of Albanian cleaners and Ukrainian carersworking in Greece, their work conditions and values, and how both contribute to welfare limits.