East, west, is home the best? Eastern European immigrant women in northern Italy in the care sector: the impact of origins on the right to work

Be it the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the EU Chart of Fundamental Rights, Italy is willingly and legally involved in various international frameworks established to ensure fundamental rights are being respected. Nevertheless, women still face problems that, on paper, should not even exist. Italy has a long history of ongoing immigration and gender-related work discrimination which together intensify adversity for immigrant women as a minority group.

Origins can play a vital role in women’s employment conditions, especially when observing the work-related situations of Eastern European immigrant women in Northern Italy, specifically in the care and healthcare sectors. How do their origins impact their ability to exercise their right to work?

“The Italian Job”

In the Italian labor market, actors are sometimes considered separate entities, while in reality, they influence each other. The EU, the Italian government, and NGOs play a significant role in the development of the situation; those living and working in Italy, both citizens and immigrants, are the protagonists. The majority of the registered immigrant population in Italy comes from Eastern European countries. Of course, one cannot ignore the employment crisis in Italy: the challenge of finding a job with sustainable working conditions is not limited to immigrant women; however, immigrant women can be categorized as being at special  risk.

According to the Spiral Model, social change can result from pressure exerted by both international sources and domestic initiatives; it is gradual, built brick by brick from above and below with the right tools and pressure. Following this logic, international and domestic forces should push Italy to find a sustainable solution; however, in 2023, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe expressed their concern in a report. Italy tends to interpret gender equality policies as family and motherhood-related solutions while simultaneously lacking a detailed plan for their implementation. As a result, Italy is failing to meet expectations, neglecting both the EU’s recommendations and the needs of women.

When observing the working conditions of Eastern European immigrant women in northern Italy, it becomes clear that their origins have a significant impact on their right to work. With equal socio-demographic characteristics, immigrant women are at a disadvantage compared to native women when searching for stable and qualified employment positions.  Further research describes how immigrant women are practically “segregated” within their working environment. As a result, finding another job without a strong network proves extremely difficult, and there is little to no advancement in domestic careers. Another study suggests that gender plays a key role in the dynamics of care work, which is often approached as an activity “of feelings” and therefore typically considered women’s territory.

After theory, practice

When it comes to real-life problems, real-life experience can be invaluable. Since direct feedback is one of the most precious sources of information, two professionals from different fields operating in northern Italy were interviewed. The questions aimed to uncover the main difficulties faced by immigrant women from Eastern countries when trying to find employment, the specific assistance services offered by their employers, and ways to support them. Sometimes it is far too easy to forget that beyond the data and analysis, there are people with practical needs; the aim was to know more from those actively searching for solutions in their daily lives.

The first organization was the Soleterre foundation, which created the program Work Is Progress: several initiatives have been documented on their Facebook and LinkedIn pages, showcasing their efforts to promote the inclusion of both vulnerable native and immigrant individuals in the job market in Italy, French-speaking Africa, and Central America. The second organization, MyColf, has helped nearly a thousand people acquire the skills needed to become family assistants since 2017, with a recent focus on Ukrainian refugees. As seen on their Facebook page, several courses have been developed to support those who strive to acquire official certifications to work in their respective field.

Unfortunately, some of the problems encountered are quite common. To begin with, simply being in Italy is challenging: finding a job is hard, especially for those who, after studying in their home countries, seek a position that matches their level of education. Furthermore, the bureaucratic process to obtain an official residence permit is exhausting. Even when an individual successfully obtains all the necessary documentation, they are still subjected to stereotypes about their origins and ways of life.

Once a job is found, difficulties soon start to pile up again. Both interviewees pointed out how language tends to be the primary barrier: the aforementioned organizations offer language courses and contact with Italian schools, as they confirmed that speaking Italian is necessary when working in the country. In addition, there tends to be a lack of regular contracts, leaving women vulnerable to the abuse of power and work-related accidents. This led to mutual agreement from both organizations for the need of more assistance and orientation.

Take care!

The last point both professionals identified, and perhaps, the most important, is the need to invest time and resources into working with everyone and to raise awareness about the crucial role these women play in Italian society. They care for children, the elderly, and homes. If an individual’s cultural background proves to be too distant, accepting them as a fellow worker can be difficult. In this context, having domestic pressure to achieve change becomes more important than ever; and if what goes around comes around, caring for others will create a better world for everyone.

Special thanks to Angelo Moratti (MyColf) and Claudia De Rosa (Soleterre) for their time, helpfulness, and in-depth answers.