1. The (Non)regulation of Domestic Work in the Netherlands Sarah van Walsum VU University Amsterdam s.k.walsum@rechten.vu.nl

2. Outline Three perspectives: 1: MDW’s: impact of residence status documented and undocumented domestic workers in Amsterdam 2: Trade Unions: combatting precarious work Paid household services in the Netherlands: 3: Dutch state: resolving contradictory aims A policy of denial Current trends in Dutch labour migration policies Possibilities and pitfalls

3. Migrant Domestic Workers: impact of residence status Research population: Filipinos & Ghanaians Research method: (indirect) interviews Findings: – Relevance immigrant status can differ – Negotiating initial contract with employer: – Gender & race > immigrant status – Developing employment relationship : – Status > social exclusion > dependency – Undocumented Ghanaians: employer = income – Undocumented Filipinos: employers > housing, health care, visa for family, bank account etc. = patron/client

4. Trade Unions: Precarious work in care sector Household services = precarious work – Anyone outsourcing any form of work in the home – For three days a week or less – Is exempt from paying social premiums and deducting taxes and from dismissal permit requirement Home-based care for elderly; children; household maintenance health care centres; host parent centres; cleaning companies: brokers or employers? marginalisation > racialisation declared labour? Increasing significance of (undocumented) migrants on (growing) market for undeclared work

5. Dutch state: resolving contradictory aims > a policy of denial Contradictory aims: Engage high skilled women more fully in paid labour Cut costs of (elderly) care > “caring citizens” “emancipate” ethnic minority women thru precarious work Policy of denial Admitting MDW via (quasi) family ties Silent collusion with (illegal) employment undeclared migrant labour

6. Current trends in Dutch labour migration policies Current labour migration policy: High salaried workers: employer manages migration Low salaried workers: Ministry of labour manages migration self-employed with high capital assests: self- managed Proposal for “Modern Migration Policy” – Universal application of sponsor managed migration

7. Possibilities & Pitfalls I “Care broker” as sponsor – Possibilities: – Employment permit dependent on track record sponsor; not situation Dutch labour market> expand scope regular employment to include “low-skilled” migrants – Pitfalls: – Migration control via “care broker” > restricted freedoms – How to compete with undeclared labour? – Tax rebates? – Quasi self-employment?

8. Possibilities & Pitfalls II Circular Migration – Possibilities: – alternative for current practice of irregularly employed migrant labour > legal residence for “low skilled” migrant workers – Pitfalls: – complete dependency vis a vis employer (housing & medical care) – Exclusion from permanent residence – No claim to family reunification

9. Thank you! Merci!

10. Looking forward Rethinking the public/private divide Rethinking the nature of employment relationships Rethinking citizenship Themes to explore? – Networks and relational concepts of belonging – Transnationalism and glocal strategies for organising care and financial security – Decentring the nation state in democratic decision- making processes