There is a huge demand for domestic workers in Europe due to the disintegration of the extended family. Female domestic workers from the Third World, who often have no official work permits, are employed to care for children or elderly people, or to do household cleaning for affluent European families, usually for long hours and low wages. Employers can treat workers badly as they know these people cannot go to the authorities. Racist attitudes towards overseas workers is also endemic amongst employers and recruitment agencies, and neither feels any obligation towards them.
