Op-Ed

On International Day of Care and Support, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, reflects on the importance of the care economy as a pillar of social justice and discusses how investment in this sector is key to advancing gender equality and decent work in the region.

Global economies and societies are deeply dependent on care work, both paid and unpaid, for their functioning and progress. From meeting the physical, emotional and psychological needs of children and the elderly, to services such as health and education, care is essential at all stages of life.

This work is carried out in different settings: in homes, by state institutions, non-profit organisations and private companies. However, the way care is provided and rewarded has a profound impact on gender equality and on social and economic development.

In recognition of its importance, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 29 October as the International Day of Care and Support. This date seeks to raise awareness of the central role of care in our societies and to promote a necessary change in its organisation and valuation.

The care economy, which encompasses both paid and unpaid care work, has been highlighted as an urgent need during the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis exposed the fragility of current care systems, revealing that people's well-being and the functioning of economies depend to a large extent on the invisible work that underpins everyday life. The challenge we face today is clear: we must rethink the care economy, putting people at the centre of policy and sustainable development.

Three major global trends are affecting the future of care: population ageing, digitalisation and climate change. These phenomena increase the demand for care services, while at the same time complicating their provision. A holistic approach is indispensable, where there is co-responsibility between the state, civil society, the private sector and families. However, the state must take primary responsibility through policies that foster a care ecosystem that is inclusive, equitable and accessible to all.

Today, 76 per cent of unpaid care work globally falls on women, an imbalance that perpetuates inequalities. In Latin America and the Caribbean, this type of work accounts for one third of women's employment. In some sectors, such as domestic work, with 15 million domestic workers in the region, 76 per cent were in informal employment. In addition, it is estimated that investment in universal childcare and long-term care services could generate up to 30 million jobs in our region by 2035.

In 2022, the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) took a significant step by promoting a general discussion on the care economy, which culminated in the adoption of a landmark resolution at the 112th International Labour Conference in June 2024. This international tripartite agreement reaffirms that, like any other form of work, work in the care economy is not a commodity and that all people should have access to care, including self-care, under decent working conditions for those who provide these services.

The ILO, with its historic leadership in promoting decent work, plays a key role in advancing the care economy. The ILO's approach, based on the 5Rs - recognise, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent care work - is a clear roadmap for structural change. This framework promotes the creation of formal jobs, improved working conditions and adequate representation for care workers, strengthening a system based on rights and respect for human dignity.

Investing in the care economy is a commitment to a fairer, more egalitarian and sustainable future. The ILO, through its Gender Transformative Agenda, places care at the heart of economic and social development. With its tripartite approach and the power of social dialogue, it will continue to lead this process towards a more equitable society, where everyone receives the care they need and those who care do so under fair conditions.

The International Day for Care and Support reminds us that care is not just a necessity; it is an act of justice. Promoting stronger and more inclusive care systems, policies and licensing is the foundation of a more equitable world, where collective well-being and decent work go hand in hand.