Domestic work in times of coronavirus: the precariousness of migrant domestic workers in Spain

Abstract

The precariousness that characterizes domestic employment in Spain is not new; however, the health emergency caused by covid-19 has exacerbated it. The migratory situation of a large number of female employees, as well as the informality that prevails in this labor niche, have been identified as elements of greater vulnerability for this group in the context of the pandemic. In this text, we analyze the impact of covid-19 on domestic employment and care in the Spanish context, specifically we recover the experience of domestic workers in the city of Zaragoza (Spain), highlighting their labor, social and health difficulties, as well as the strategies used to face the consequences of the pandemic.