The Price of Care: A reflection on work in childcare and elderly care in France

The aim of this paper is to argue how care work can be decently remunerated by examining the case of domestic work in childcare and elderly care in France. There exists abundant research on the question of care and the working conditions of care workers. Many point out the difficult and underpaid conditions of this work, which is mainly performed by women. Some consider this problematic because care is frequently associated with women and domesticity.

A close study conducted of care work in France through a field survey reveals, however, a different configuration with respect to care work: Decent working conditions and rewards are possible in a specific circumstance wherein i) the government intervenes with the public policy through labour laws and subventions; ii) there is more demand than supply, and demand consists of a population wealthy enough to buy the services; and iii) the care requires a full-time worker due to its nature entailing constant attention.

Because of this specific condition, many registered childminders in Paris are able to work at home with working hours adapted to their family life, while also earning a relatively good salary, regardless of their poor educational background. On the other hand, elderly care workers are often compelled to work fragmented working hours, divided between one user’s home and another. Most of the time, their salary hovers around the minimum wage fixed by law.