ILO canvasses investment in care initiatives
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently highlighted the potential for job creation through investment in care policies. In their latest report focusing on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, titled “Care at Work: Investing in Care Leave and Services for a More Gender Equal World of Work,” the ILO outlined the significant impact of investing in the care economy.
The report suggests that by 2035, almost 13 million jobs could be generated across 12 countries in the MENA region through strategic investments in care policies. These policies include measures such as childcare-related leave, breastfeeding breaks for working mothers, and the expansion of early childhood care and education, as well as long-term care services.
By addressing care policy gaps and making a sustainable annual investment of over $204 billion by 2035, which amounts to an average of 5.8% of GDP per country, the report projects several positive outcomes. These include a reduction in the gender gap in employment rates by seven percentage points and a significant decrease in the gender gap in monthly earnings, from 15% in 2019 to 1.8% in 2035.
Furthermore, the ILO emphasizes that every dollar spent on care packages is expected to yield approximately three dollars of GDP increase, underscoring the significant economic impact of such investments.
The report’s findings underscore the importance of investing in care policy packages across the MENA region to boost economic growth and social progress. Ruba Jarada, ILO Regional Director for the Arab States, and Chidi King, ILO Chief of the Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Branch, emphasized the necessity of these investments for achieving a gender-equal, sustainable, and inclusive future in the region.
Despite the universal recognition of maternity protection as a fundamental human and labor right, the report highlights inconsistencies in its implementation across the MENA region. While progress has been made, there are still 12 countries that fall short of the ILO’s minimum standards, indicating the need for continued legal reforms to ensure universal compliance.
In addition to identifying gaps in current policies, the report also offers recommendations and actionable strategies for achieving universal access to quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) through transformative care policies and the promotion of decent work conditions.
Overall, the ILO report serves as a call to action for governments, employers, workers’ organizations, and other stakeholders to prioritize investment in care policies for the betterment of society and the economy. It emphasizes the potential for significant job creation, economic growth, and progress towards gender equality through strategic investments in the care economy.
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