The global care crisis demands urgent attention. A new brief from the International Labour Organization (ILO) offers solutions. Employment-intensive public investments can help. These investments create millions of decent jobs. This initiative is part of the ILO Care Economy Brief series.
Integrating care into public projects yields significant job growth. This approach could generate up to 280 million jobs by 2030. By 2035, this figure rises to 299 million. Women would hold nearly four-fifths of these new positions. Mito Tsukamoto of ILO emphasizes this potential. She states infrastructure spending can build brighter futures. This includes creating decent jobs.
STRATEGIC APPROACHES FOR CARE INVESTMENT
The ILO recommends three key strategies. These approaches maximize the impact of public investments.
Supporting Workers and Developing Infrastructure
Firstly, support workers with care responsibilities. Measures include paid leave and flexible schedules. Onsite childcare is also crucial. Secondly, develop care infrastructure. This spans nurseries to long-term care facilities. Use labor-based methods to prioritize local employment.
Professionalizing Care Work
Thirdly, include care as a formal work sector. This professionalizes previously unpaid roles. It also formalizes informal care positions. This ensures fair wages and social protection for care workers.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND PILOT PROJECTS
Investing in care yields substantial economic returns. It also demonstrates successful pilot initiatives.
The ILO estimates significant economic benefits. Every US $1 invested in childcare gaps could yield US $3.76 in global GDP by 2035. This also boosts women’s employment rates. A more than ten percentage point increase is expected. The Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) supports job-rich development. This includes green projects and crisis response.
Real-World Success Stories
The brief highlights pilot projects in Jordan, Sudan, and Madagascar. EIIP initiatives combined road rehabilitation with nursery construction. They also upgraded health posts. Safe community parks were created. In Jordan, EIIP generated over 155,000 paid work-days. Women performed 34% of these, and persons with disabilities 5%. Public Employment Programmes in South Africa, Argentina, and Rwanda also integrate care services. These programs became significantly more gender-responsive.
TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY AND DECENT WORK
Embedding care principles ensures positive labor market outcomes.
The ILO’s 5R Framework
Chidi King of ILO emphasizes the 5R Framework. This includes recognition, reduction, and redistribution of unpaid care. It also covers reward and representation of care workers. Applying this framework helps close gender gaps. It provides decent work for women in employment-intensive investments.
Recommendations for Future Action
The ILO urges governments and partners to act. They should include care services in infrastructure planning. Applying labor-based approaches supports local employment. Ensuring new care roles align with international labor standards is vital. These steps will foster a more equitable and prosperous future.
