Care Work & the Care Economy: Policies and International Labour Standards

Knowledge sharing on ILS, Policies and Case law on Care Work

Care Work & the Care Economy: Policies and International Labour Standards

24 Junho–19 Julho 2024
O curso está disponível em English
Apresentação do curso

The care economy has moved to centre stage in global policy agendas. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing gender inequalities in the labour market and the imbalance between women and men regarding unpaid housework and care work. These additional demands on women forced many to quit paid work altogether, making their re-entry into the labour market more challenging as economies and societies recover from the pandemic. Regarding care as a sector, according to the ILO Care work report, the global care work-force represents 11.5 per cent of total global employment, and it is estimated that increasing investment in the care economy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will result in a total of 475 million jobs by 2030. The global care workforce includes care workers in various sectors such as education, health and social work, domestic workers and non-care workers in care sectors, who support care service provision. Overall, care workers remain some of the most vulnerable workers in the global economy. This situation has exposed the urgent need to address the unequal share of unpaid care work between women and men and between families, communities, the market and the State, with a significant regulatory role, beyond provision. Investing in frameworks of transformative care policies with quality care jobs benefits all workers, children, businesses, societies, and the planet. Through this capacity-development programme, participants will explore how to successfully promote decent work in care work and enable a more balanced sharing of family responsibilities. The course includes live virtual sessions with international experts and self-guided online modules, covering strategies and tools to identify transformative policies in care work and the care economy, with a strong focus on international labour standards.

Perfil dos participantes

Representatives from Ministries of Labour, Gender Equality and Social Policies fields, Social partners, academics, Equal opportunities Units, Associations of domestic workers, long-term care workers, nursing personnel, and persons interested in care work and the care economy.

What topics does this course cover?

In this learning journey, you will be taken through four modules. Main topics include:

  • Key concepts, definitions and approaches to the care economy and care policies;
  • ILO’s policy framework for decent work in care work including the 5 Rs: recognize, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent;
  • An overview of international labour standards, policies, tools, actions and good practices to position care work at the core of a future with decent work and intersectional gender equality.
What will I learn?

In particular, this course will allow participants to:

  • Have a better understanding about the care economy, the centrality of care work and care policies and their value for societies and economies;
  • Recognise the main concepts of the care economy and its importance for decent work, gender equality and an inclusive socioeconomic development;
  • Get familiar with strategies to promote transformative policies so that care work is at the core of a future with decent work and gender equality.
What will I be able to do?

Become more familiar with the care economy by understanding:

  • The key concepts and definitions on the care economy, care work, ILS related to care, and care policies.
  • ILO’s 5R Framework for Decent Work.

Analyse and plan:

  • Transformative policies in care work, macroeconomics, social protection, labour, migration, health, education and domestic work.
  • Identify the policies and tools that promote decent work for care workers, including migrant care workers.
  • Care policies in line with ILO international labour standards to enable a more balanced sharing of family responsibilities.

Promote and communicate on:

  • Decent work for care workers.
  • Invest in care policies.
  • Good practices that support representation and social dialogue in care work.
Why

Investing in care is key for the recovery of economies. Through this course, you will be able to:

  • Engage and network with other constituents and international experts on how to promote good practices and actions in care work.
  • Master key care economy concepts, ILO’s framework (and its implementation), tools and good practices.
  • Promote care work and policies for a future with decent work and intersectional gender equality.
Who?

This interactive course is designed for ILO’s constituents, as well as persons directly involved in care work, social dialogue and conciliation of working and private life, representatives from Ministries of Labour, Gender Equality and Social Policies fields, social partners, academics, Equal opportunities Units, Associations of domestic workers, long-term care workers, nursing personnel, and persons interested in care work and the care economy in general.

Are there any fellowships?

A limited number of fellowships are available to qualified candidates coming from eligible countries.

As an Organization dedicated to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, the ILO is taking a leading role in international efforts to foster gender equality. In line with this ILO focus, women are particularly encouraged to apply to ITCILO courses.

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