In Belgium, the govt set up a system where "freelance" cleaners get paid 15€ / hr and also get health care, pension etc. This is all done electronically / online and works really well.

Normal people don't use cleaning companies but loads of people had a cleaner nevertheless who was paid "in black" prior to this system.

Now everyone's insured, pays taxes, gets long term benefits etc.

In most places in Western Europe that I've lived, it's perfectly normal for a 2-earner household to have someone that comes in say 4-7 hours to clean once a week, and maybe do some laundry/ironing (depending on time available). It's an expense yes, but around that (when calculated back to monthly cost) of say owning (another) small car.

Cleaners really are not that expensive. I live in the UK where the cost of living is really high and can still afford to have a cleaner in for a couple of hours a week. I still do the dishes (well, load / empty the dishwasher), clothes and take out the rubbish but at least I don't need to vacuum / dust the house etc.

I can only do this because I live abroad in Latin America. Sadly, wages are very low for this kind of work.

Though I did have a cleaning person come twice a month, when I lived in the Pacific Northwest, I could never afford all this much help living in the US.