Many working couples and single parents rely on foreign au pairs, as a lot of them are native English-speakers themselves. Luckily for those young women, there are international standards for how much they are paid and what they are expected to do at the home. Those that live with the families can expect a monthly stipend of about €450, their working hours are limited to a half day, and they should not be asked to do any cleaning unless there is a specific agreement about such chores.

A housekeeper, on the other hand, will often charge somewhere around €750 per month. Because most of the housekeepers are also foreign women, often from the Philippines or Eastern Europe, the authorities keep a close eye on the sector for illegal immigration. Those found hiring illegal help can now face fines of up to €5,000. There are an estimated 100,000 immigrant women working as housekeepers in Italy, and polls show that about three percent of Italian children are raised by an immigrant nanny.