Swept Under the Rug is a cross-border investigation into the experiences of migrant domestic workers in Spain, Italy, and Greece, with a particular focus on gender-based violence, working conditions, and the effectiveness of existing legal protections.
Over nine months, a team of freelance journalists surveyed and interviewed 236 migrant domestic workers across the three countries. More than half of those surveyed reported experiencing gender-based violence in the workplace, ranging from verbal abuse, harassment, and stalking to false imprisonment and rape. Yet only two respondents said they had ever filed a police report.
The investigation combined quantitative data with first-hand testimonies to examine why incidents often go unreported.
Many domestic workers told the reporters they feared losing their jobs if they reported abuse. Others cited fear of the police, concerns about deportation or immigration consequences, economic dependence on their employers, responsibilities toward family members in their countries of origin, stigma surrounding reporting, doubts that authorities would believe them, or a perception that what they had experienced was not serious enough to warrant a complaint. Some respondents also reported not knowing how or where to file a report.
The reporting found that many domestic workers possess high levels of education. Around half of those surveyed held university degrees, while approximately 80% had completed secondary education. Despite this, the majority reported earning below minimum wage while working full-time. Many also lived in their employers’ homes and worked five or more days per week.
The investigation examined legal and policy frameworks affecting domestic workers, including the implementation of the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers and more recent reforms in Spain, such as the Prevención 10 occupational risk assessment platform and new migrant regularisation measures.
Through interviews, data collection, and analysis, the reporting explored whether these initiatives have translated into greater protection for workers vulnerable to abuse.
The investigation also examined structural characteristics of the domestic work sector. For many workers, employment, income, housing, and legal status are closely linked to a single employer. Because domestic work takes place within private households rather than conventional workplaces, oversight and inspection mechanisms can be limited. The journalists scrutinised how these conditions may affect workers’ ability to seek support, report abuse, or access legal remedies.
Team members
Leah Pattem is a British/Indian multi-award-winning freelance journalist and film-maker, and founder of hyper-local media platform Madrid No Frills.
Sofia Turati is an Italy-based freelance journalist reporting mostly on environmental issues, migration and human trafficking.
Hazar Deniz Eker is a German/Turkish freelance journalist and researcher, writing for the European Correspondent and Euronews.
Daphne Tolis is an award-winning documentary producer and multimedia journalist based in Athens.