Abstract
Policy makers and researchers are alarmed by the pervasive substandard working conditions and mistreatment in domestic work worldwide. Using an original dataset from a sample of domestic workers in Portugal (n = 684), our study explores types of abuse and harassment and tries to unveil the potential factors affecting the likelihood of having been a victim. Empirical evidence pointed to three segments of domestic workers: victims of labour abuses related to contract and wages, victims of multiple abuses including mistreatment and also psychological and sexual harassment, and a segment with no occurrence of abuse. Informal workers are more often victims of labour abuses, while migrants, especially Brazilian women, are more likely to report all types of abuse and harassment. On the other hand, carers of the elderly often suffered multiple abuses. The results suggest that despite the prevalence of labour abuses in Portugal, the most severe abuses are uncommon.
Highlights
Certain occupations, circumstances in which people work and gender can significantly increase the risk of violence in the workplace (Chappell and Di Martino, 2006; Mayhew, 20121)
This is the case of caregivers and immigrants, who are employed in vulnerable conditions
The literature provides clear evidence of the lack of social recognition and undervaluing of domestic work, including care work (Kontos, 2014), and that most domestic workers worldwide are employed in substandard conditions and are vulnerable to multiple abuses and harassment in their workplace (ILO, 2010, 2013; Caracciolo et al, 2011)
Summary
Circumstances in which people work and gender can significantly increase the risk of violence in the workplace (Chappell and Di Martino, 2006; Mayhew, 20121). The literature provides clear evidence of the lack of social recognition and undervaluing of domestic work, including care work (Kontos, 2014), and that most domestic workers worldwide are employed in substandard conditions and are vulnerable to multiple abuses and harassment in their workplace (ILO, 2010, 2013; Caracciolo et al, 2011). These abuses and harassments are frequently invisible to researchers
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