The politics of live-in care migration: a comparative study of Taiwan, Austria, and Germany

GOLTC Migration, Mobility and Care Workers Interest Group webinar 

Date: Thursday, 8 May 2025

Time: 13:00 – 14:00 BST (you can check your local time here)

 Link: Register to join on Zoom

The recruitment and placement of migrant care workers from poorer countries into private households and long-term care services in wealthier countries has become a widespread response to care deficits in different societies around the world. In countries with a strong family tradition (such as the three countries studied in this presentation) in terms of who is considered responsible for providing care, and with high levels of informal care, it is evident that live-in care provided by migrant care workers, living in the household of a person in need of care and providing round-the-clock support, has become an increasingly important phenomenon. In our presentation, we analyse the politics of live-in care migration in Taiwan, Austria and Germany. We are interested in comparing the policy responses (or non-responses) that the phenomenon has provoked – or not – and examine differences and similarities. We also compare the policy processes related to the regulation and regularisation of live-in migrant care work and the interests of the actors behind them. Within these policy processes, we ask: Who are the key actors involved in constructing or contesting the labour rights of live-in migrant care workers? What are the main drivers or obstacles to policies protecting these workers? 

The webinar will cover:  

1. Introduction to the Global Observatory of Long-Term care and welcome (Adelina Comas-Herrera, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, LSE, UK) 

1. Introduction to the GOLTC Migration, Mobility and Care Workers Interest Group (Isabel Shutes, Department of Social Policy, LSE, UK) 

1. Presentation: The politics of live-in care migration: a comparative study of Taiwan, Austria and Germany 

Simone Leiber (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany)
Li-Fang Liang (National Dong-Hwa University, Taiwan)
August Österle (Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria)
Migyeong Yun (University of Bremen, Germany) 

1. Discussion with Interest Group members