“Care Drain” from East to West: The Narrative of Romanian Women Migrant Working in the Italian Domestic Care Sector

Abstract

This study employs a qualitative methodology to investigate the implications of Romanian women’s migration to Italy for employment in the domestic care sector. The research is based on in-depth interviews conducted face to face with 20 Romanian women who have resided in Italy for over a decade, with the aim of capturing the details of their long-term integration processes. These interviews, conducted in 2022, specifically focus on the participants’ lived experiences of migration and adaptation within the Italian context. Findings reveal that economic motivations are a primary driver intertwined with aspirations for personal and familial advancement. However, the research also highlights the challenges faced by these women, including precarious employment conditions, emotional strain due to family separation, and complexities of integration within the host society. Social networks and transnational ties emerge as crucial factors influencing both the decision to migrate and the subsequent adaptation process. The analysis underscores the duality inherent in care work migration: While it bolsters the Italian care economy and offers economic opportunities for the migrants, it simultaneously exposes them to vulnerabilities such as job insecurity and potential exploitation. By investigating this migration of care workers, the research contributes to the field of welfare economics by clarifying the economic ramifications of gendered occupational segregation and migration status. Furthermore, it advocates for implementing inclusive labour market practices and policies that prioritize the well-being of migrant care workers and facilitate their successful integration into host societies.