Employing migrant care workers for 24-hour care in private households in Austria

Migrant care work in private households has become an important element of Austria's long-term care system. This chapter describes the impact of migrant care work on the Austrian long-term care system. The development of migrant care work, or – as commonly termed in Austria – 24-hour care work, from an irregular phenomenon to a regular element of the Austrian long-term care system, is analysed. The intersection of care regime, migration regime and employment regime has been identified as key for the emergence and institutionalization of migrant care work, and of the specific national patterns. With the regularization in 2007, 24-hour care work became a regular pillar of the Austrian long-term care system. At the same time, the integration into the traditional service system remained limited. This leads the discussion to an assessment of the benefits and the risks of migrant care work for the long-term care system in Austria.