Investment in care services can generate 234 million jobs for women by 2035, says ILO

According to a new report by International Labor Organization (ILO), Investing in universal childcare and long-term care services can generate up to 299 million jobs by 2035.

About the report:

• The report is titled “Care at work: Investing in care leave and services for a more gender equal world of work”.
• It provides a global overview of national laws and practices regarding care policies, namely maternity protection, paternity, parental and other care-related leave policies, as well as childcare and long-term care services.
• The ILO report revealed that persistent and significant gaps in care services and policies have left hundreds of millions of workers with family responsibilities without adequate protection and support.

Key findings of the report:

• The report found that three out of every ten women of reproductive age or 649 million women, lived in the 82 countries that did not meet the ILO Convention.
  • The Convention mandates 14 weeks of minimum maternity leave on at least two-thirds of previous earnings, funded by social insurance or public funds.
• The proportion of potential mothers living in countries with maternity leave durations below 14 weeks is 51.9 per cent in Africa (23 countries), 55.8 per cent in the Americas (18 countries) and 17.5 per cent in Asia and the Pacific (15 countries).
• In Europe and Central Asia, all potential mothers live in countries providing at least 14 weeks of maternity leave.
  • Globally, 123 countries offer fully paid maternity leave, with nine in 10 potential mothers living in these countries.
• The report warned that it will take at least 46 years to achieve minimum maternity leave rights in the 185 countries analysed for the study.
• Long-term care services are also essential to ensure the right to healthy ageing in dignity and independent living.
  • Globally, only 89 out of 179 countries have a statutory provision of public long-term care services for older persons.
• Investing in universal childcare and long-term care services can generate up to 299 million jobs by 2035.
• Of these, 234 million (78 per cent) will go to women.
• This job creation potential by 2035 will be driven by 96 million direct jobs in childcare, 136 million direct jobs in long-term care and 67 million indirect jobs in non-care sectors and for that, an annual investment of $5.4 trillion will be required.

About International Labor Organization (ILO):

• It is the only tripartite U.N. agency. It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
• It was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versaillesas an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.
• It became the first affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.
• Headquarters:Geneva, Switzerland
• Founding Mission:social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
• It promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights.
• It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.