ABSTRACT
In many countries of the Global North but also Asia and the Middle East, the provision of (informal) services to local households is a key reason for the employment of irregular immigrants, especially women. While in general irregular immigration is contrasted by governments with increasing determination, in this case an undeclared tolerance is often applied. Moreover, in some countries (Italy is a case in point), sporadic amnesties allow the regularisation of such workers if employers engage in legalisation procedures and sign regular contracts. In this chapter, my purpose is, first, to go beyond the markets vs politics dichotomy in the treatment of immigrants, adding a third element, namely, social acceptance. Second, I want to highlight how some political and cultural goals, such as the defence of families as the main providers of services to frail people, contrast with other political goals, such as the protection of national borders against the influx of immigrants from poorer countries. Third, I aim to broaden the concept of labour markets beyond conventional economic actors, including households and common people among the employers of immigrants, and discuss the peculiar features of the working relations established in this domain.
