Studies carried out in developed countries have found that the care sector is distinguished from other sectors by certain specific characteristics: it is highly feminized; it offers limited access to social protection; its workforce has a high proportion of migrants; turnover is high; and pay is low. These factors together create conditions that foster precariousness, discrimination and inequality. Past research has covered related topics, including a comparative study of domestic employment (ECLAC, 2007; Valenzuela and Moras, 2009; Blofield, 2012) as well as research on employment and wages in the education sector (Navarro, 2002; Liang, 2003; Vaillant and Rossel, 2006; Cerrutti, 2008; Mizala and Nopo, 2011) and the health sector (Malvarez and Castrillon, 2005; Rico and Marco, 2006; Pautassi, 2006). However, veiy few studies have taken a comprehensive comparative look at paid care work.