Care migrants in private households

Elderly people are increasingly being looked after and cared for at home. Domestic 24-hour care in Liechtenstein is mainly provided by women from Eastern European countries. They live with the elderly person on a weekly basis and take on a wide range of care, everyday and household tasks. The caregivers work for a low salary and in conditions that are unclear in terms of employment and residence law, as private households are not subject to the Labor Act and there is no binding standard employment contract for this form of work. The caregivers are registered as cross-border commuters, even though they live in the household of the person receiving care in Liechtenstein for several weeks. The legal and institutional framework conditions for 24-hour care were comprehensively analyzed in a 2020 study commissioned by the VMR, the Liechtenstein Employees' Association (LANV) and the Information and Advice Center for Women (infra).

Based on the results of the study, the commissioning organizations recommended various measures to improve the situation of those affected, including the development of a standard employment contract that is geared towards 24-hour care and is regularly reviewed. In the reporting year, negotiations between the LANV and the Office of Economic Affairs on the draft standard employment contract were continued. The consultation process and entry into force are planned for 2025.

Since autumn 2022, the Information and Advice Center for Women (infra), the Liechtenstein Employees' Association (LANV) and the VMR have been offering careforum.li, an advice platform for people in 24-hour care in Liechtenstein. Both the platform and the Liechtenstein Patient Organization noted a sharp increase in complaints from caregivers in the reporting year.

 

back