Resources on Care Economy

  1. ILO Working paper 55

    Costs and benefits of investing in transformative care policy packages: A macrosimulation study in 82 countries

    09 March 2022

  2. Publication

    Care at work: Investing in care leave and services for a more gender equal world of work

    07 March 2022

    The report 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.

  3. Report

    Youth labour market resilience during the COVID-19 crisis in three middle-income countries

    02 March 2022

    Young people have been especially hard hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Despite support provided by governments, many young people had to rely on their individual capabilities and resources to adapt and react to these difficult times.

  4. Policy brief

    An uneven and gender-unequal COVID-19 recovery: Update on gender and employment trends 2021

    26 October 2021

    The COVID-19 crisis caused unprecedented job losses, hitting women the hardest, particularly in middle-income countries. The COVID-19 recovery is proving both uneven and gender-unequal, as women’s employment recovery is lagging behind men’s.

  5. ILO Working paper 29

    Public Employment Programmes in the Care Economy - The Case of South Africa

    29 April 2021

    The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic crisis have increased unemployment levels in the care economy, detrimental effects of which are felt by care workers, the majority of whom are women. The South African experience shows that Public Employment Programmes (PEPs) have contributed to the progressive realisation of decent work where as a first step in the trajectory, they have recognised and renumerated care related labour as work. This case study raises a series of questions for further consideration about the role of PEPs in this context, particularly their efficacy in the provision of direct care services.

  6. UN Women - ILO Policy Tool

    How to assess fiscal stimulus packages from a gender equality perspective

    31 March 2021

    UN Women – ILO Joint Programme Promoting Decent Employment for Women through Inclusive Growth Strategies and Investments in Care.

  7. UN Women - ILO Policy Tool

    Assessing the gendered employment impacts of COVID-19 and supporting a gender-responsive recovery

    31 March 2021

    UN Women – ILO Joint Programme Promoting Decent Employment for Women through Inclusive Growth Strategies and Investments in Care.

  8. UN Women - ILO Policy Tool

    A guide to public investments in the care economy

    31 March 2021

    UN Women – ILO Joint Programme: Promoting Decent Employment for Women through Inclusive Growth Strategies and Investments in Care.

  9. ILO Policy brief

    A gender-responsive employment recovery: Building back fairer

    24 July 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis has laid bare the entrenched gender inequalities that plague labour markets. Building back fairer will only be possible by tackling these inequalities head on during the emergency and recovery phases.

  10. Publication

    Family-friendly workplace practices and policies for employers in the context of COVID-19

    06 April 2020

    This document builds on material developed by UNICEF EAPRO, UNICEF ESARO and the ILO. It is an interim guidance note, developed in a fast-evolving situation. It provides general recommendations that aim to help employers strengthen support for workers and their families.