🇬🇧 English guides · Domestic work in Italy

Hiring a domestic worker in Italy: the essentials (2026)

If you are a foreign employer living in Italy (or managing a household here), hiring a housekeeper (colf), a caregiver (badante) or a babysitter can feel complicated. This page is a practical “starting point”: clear rules, simple words, and common mistakes to avoid.

In two words
Hiring a domestic worker in Italy means: a written contract, INPS social contributions, correct pay, and respect for working hours and rest time. If you keep things organised from the beginning, you avoid almost all problems.
Italy Domestic work Employer guide INPS
Start here: key guides for foreign employers

1What counts as “domestic work” in Italy

Domestic work covers household support and care services inside a private home. The most common roles are:

Even when the relationship is friendly, in Italy it is still a regulated employment relationship, with contributions and basic rules.

2First decision: live-in or live-out?

One of the most important choices is whether the worker is:

Common misunderstanding
“Live-in” does not mean “available all the time”. Even live-in workers have protected rest time and free personal time.

For a practical comparison, read our guide on live-in vs live-out caregiver costs in Italy .

3Contract basics: what you must set from day one

To avoid confusion, set these elements clearly (ideally in writing):

Minimum checklist

4INPS contributions and payments: what you should know

In Italy domestic work includes INPS contributions. The employer is responsible for paying them correctly and on time. Payments are linked to pagoPA.

For a full explanation of payments and deadlines, see our guide on INPS contributions for domestic workers in Italy .

Practical advice
Do not wait for paper letters. Keep your access to INPS services organised (SPID / CIE / CNS) and check payments regularly.

5Pay, payslips, and records

A correct relationship is not just about paying the monthly amount. It’s also about keeping clear records:

Why it matters
When a disagreement happens, the difference between “a mess” and “a simple solution” is usually documentation and clear rules.

For practical payroll advice, see our guide on how to pay wages correctly and keep proof of payment .

6Working time vs rest time (a key rule)

A correct domestic work relationship always separates: working hours (when the worker must be available and active) from rest time (personal time).

This is crucial for live-in caregivers and for families who need assistance during nights or weekends: the right approach is organisation (shifts, replacements, agreed extra hours), not “expecting constant availability”.

For live-in caregivers, you may also find useful our guide on rest days and personal time for live-in caregivers in Italy .

7Best practices: simple rules that prevent conflicts

Good habit Why it helps
Write the weekly schedule Clarity on work hours and rest time.
Keep salary calculations transparent Prevents disputes and builds trust.
Do not “improvise” changes Any change should be discussed and agreed.
Plan coverage during days off Avoids tension in live-in care situations.

8Need help?

If you are unsure about the correct setup (live-in vs live-out, contributions, hours, pay), it is better to clarify early than to fix problems later. Our goal is to help employers stay compliant and organised.

9Related guides

Continue with these English guides: