Paraguayan migrant Zunilda Priests moved to Asturias in 2010 and has worked as a domestic helper in Gijón since then. I have a fixed contract with the same family, always in the same house. I’m very happy, I’ve been lucky, she explains. Recently, she heard that unemployment benefits will be extended with a slightly higher amount if luck runs out. For workers with steady contracts, that reassurance matters. If I were ever let go, I could search calmly and potentially improve the situation for many others, Priests notes.
Her story mirrors that of Margareta Balán, who arrived in Gijón from Romania nine years ago. Balán now holds a stable position, grateful for kind employers who ensured appropriate work clothing and fair treatment. Yet the road wasn’t easy. Before, she moved between several households, sometimes working only a few hours and never in a full-time role with social security. She did internships that ended abruptly when a family member passed away, leaving her unpaid and without a safety net. Like many, she welcomes the right to strike and argues that workers who pay into social security deserve unemployment protection. If someone works and contributes, she insists, they should be eligible for benefits when needed.
Mary Voinea, a domestic worker in Grado, also emphasizes the need for regulation. The industry has long faced informal work and unlawful recruitment. Domestic workers should enjoy the same rights as other employees, including unemployment protection. That principle, Voinea argues, is a basic worker right.
Domestic workers will start contributing to unemployment in October
The leading associations for domestic workers welcomed the government’s reform while cautioning that enforcement must be strict. They worry that higher obligations could fuel fraud within employer households and drive more work underground. A representative for Mujeres Unidas Entre Tierras, Isabel Del Valle, explains that many members were hired for a few hours but ended up performing substantial work under pressure. When unemployment protection is tied to contributions, gaps in coverage may emerge if contributions are irregular.
Effects of government reform
With the reform approved, domestic workers gain formal rights and families face new costs. Starting 1 October, families employing domestic workers must contribute to unemployment insurance. The policy directly benefits 7,814 Asturian women already registered with Social Security, granting access to unemployment benefits while requiring higher contributions from both families and workers.
Access to unemployment benefits is not immediate, as a contribution period is required. Individual circumstances vary, especially if a worker previously held other jobs before entering the special regime. Most new entrants will begin with a fresh contribution period spanning 360 days to build eligibility for a future benefit should they lose their jobs.
Will services become more expensive for families? The reform increases the social security contributions for both employers and workers. The government provides an 80% subsidy for employer contributions to unemployment insurance and the Salary Guarantee Fund, while maintaining a 20% employer share for common contingencies and adjusting subsidies according to household size and income.
How much more will families pay? For a family working 40 hours weekly at the standard minimum wage, the extra monthly cost is modest but real, about 24.4 euros, in addition to existing contributions and earnings. For part-time roles, such as 20 hours weekly, the additional monthly cost would be around 12.2 euros, with related contributions totaling 186 euros. Industry insiders note that many employers already cover the total social contributions, so the new rule may shift some cost to the family, whether through direct payment or payroll adjustments. Workforce participants will see a small deduction from wages for unemployment, while employers will shoulder a slightly higher monthly burden of about half a dozen euros more per worker each month on average, assuming a typical 40-hour week and standard pay scales.
Looking ahead to 2023, the Intergenerational Equality Mechanism introduces another incremental cost for employers, requiring a small annual “plus” payment for 40-hour weeks at higher wage levels. In this scenario, workers may incur a minor additional monthly contribution, and the decision on minimum wage levels could further influence family costs.
Does the reform cover unemployment alone? No. Dismissal reform removes the automatic right to terminate contracts without cause, aligning more protections with standard labor rules. Yet compensation for a fair dismissal remains, and union leaders acknowledge progress while urging further improvements. They also highlight gaps for night shifts and internships, suggesting that labor inspectors play a crucial role in curbing informal practices. Asturias registers about 7,814 domestic workers, though union estimates imply a higher count across the sector.