Irregular Migration and the Welfare State: Strange Allies?

In many countries, in the Global North but also in Asia and in 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), from time to time amnesties allow the regularization of such workers, if employers engage in legalization’s procedures and in signing regular contracts. In this chapter, my purpose is in first place to go beyond the dichotomy markets vs politics in the treatment of immigrants, adding a third element, namely social acceptance. Secondly, I want to highlight that some political and cultural goals, as the defence of families as the main providers of services to frail people, contrast with other political goals, as the protection of national borders against the infiltration of foreign immigrants coming from poorer countries. Thirdly, I aim to broaden the concept of labour markets, beyond conventional economic actors, including households and common people among the employers of immigrants, and discussing the peculiar features of the working relations established in this domain.