Skip to content

logo Created with Sketch.
  • Donate
About UsContactDonate Now
Listen navigate down
  • The World's Podcast
  • The Number in the News for smartspeakers
  • Global Hit
  • Music Heard on Air
  • Stations Listing
Newsletters navigate down
  • Top of The World daily newsletter
  • Critical State
Categories navigate down
  • Conflict & Justice
  • Culture & Society
  • Development & Education
  • Health & Medicine
  • Immigration
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Science & Environment
  • Technology
  • Women & Gender

Invisible Workforce

A series about America's nannies, housecleaners and caregivers and the people who hire them

Nannies, housecleaners, caregivers–they are sometimes called the world's most invisible workforce. In the US alone, it's estimated that more than 2 million people do this type of work. Most are women and many are immigrants. And pressure is growing to address their working conditions.

How an immigrant from Paraguay reunited with her son

After 10 years in the US working as a nanny, Blanca is finally able to reunite with her own son, Guido. But moving him to the States comes with its share of hurdles here and back home in Paraguay.

Conflict & Justice

The US has long worked to prevent diplomats from mistreating household workers

The World

December 20, 2013

The case of an Indian diplomat accused of mistreating her housekeeper may not be as rare as you might expect. US officials have a program to educate domestic workers from abroad on their rights, to prevent such abuse.

Conflict & Justice

Immigrant Domestic Workers Test New Ways to Settle Disputes

The World

May 17, 2013

Domestic workers are sometimes called the world's largest "invisible" workforce. This final story in our series is from Boston, where domestic workers and their employers are testing new ways to settle disputes that might not involve a courtroom.

Business

She's an organizer of America's domestic workers — and, now, a certified 'genius'

The World

September 18, 2014

Ai-jen Poo, the director of National Domestic Workers Alliance, just won a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the "genius grant." She describes how it feels to win the prestigious award and how it might affect her work with America's "visible invisible" domestic workers.

Lifestyle & Belief

How an immigrant from Paraguay reunited with her son

The World

May 09, 2014

After 10 years in the US working as a nanny, Blanca is finally able to reunite with her own son, Guido. But moving him to the States comes with its share of hurdles here and back home in Paraguay.

Conflict & Justice

The US has long worked to prevent diplomats from mistreating household workers

The World

December 20, 2013

The case of an Indian diplomat accused of mistreating her housekeeper may not be as rare as you might expect. US officials have a program to educate domestic workers from abroad on their rights, to prevent such abuse.

Conflict & Justice

Immigrant Domestic Workers Test New Ways to Settle Disputes

The World

May 17, 2013

Domestic workers are sometimes called the world's largest "invisible" workforce. This final story in our series is from Boston, where domestic workers and their employers are testing new ways to settle disputes that might not involve a courtroom.

Conflict & Justice

Global Push to Improve Labor Conditions for Cleaners, Maids, and Nannies

The World

May 17, 2013

Nisha Varia, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, talks with anchor Marco Werman about the growing movement to improve labor conditions for "the help" worldwide.

Business, Economics and Jobs

Immigrant Domestic Workers Face Tough Challenges in a Push for Better Conditions

The World

May 16, 2013

Immigrant domestic workers, nannies, housecleaners, and caregivers, are sometimes called the world's largest invisible workforce. Odette Yousef, of WBEZ in Chicago, reports on nationwide efforts to improve employment conditions.

Conflict & Justice

An Undocumented Immigrant Caregiver Shares Her Story

The World

May 15, 2013

Nannies, house cleaners, caregivers. In the US it's estimated that more than 2 million people do this type of work. Most are women, many are immigrants. As part of our Global Nation coverage, Monica Campbell has our first piece about domestic workers.

logo-footer Created with Sketch.

The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter.

Produced by

  2. GBH_logo_purple_rgb Created with Sketch.

Major funding provided by

  1. Carnegie Corporation of New York
  2. MacArthur Foundation
  3. Ford Foundation
  4. Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • About
  • Donate
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of use

©2021 The World from PRX.

PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402.

close

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. To learn more, review our Cookie Policy. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and Privacy Policy.

Ok, I understand. Close
close

The story you just read is freely available and accessible to everyone because readers like you support The World financially. 

Thank you all for helping us reach our goal of 1,000 donors. We couldn’t have done it without your support. Your donation directly supported the critical reporting you rely on, the consistent reporting you believe in, and the deep reporting you want to ensure survives. 

DONATE TODAY > No thanks