Care work is the bedrock of society. It is a testament to a shared humanity, and our collective responsibility towards one another. The significance of care work, both paid and unpaid, has become increasingly evident. As the world grapples with an ageing population, as well as the rise of hybrid work models catalysed by Covid-19 and AI, the urgency to address the issue of care work intensifies, and changing demographics, the burden of care work appears to be increasing.
Women bear the brunt of expectations to carry out care work, such as raising children and tending to elderly relatives and neighbours. Valuing care work translates to valuing women. Restructuring our understanding of care work as one that is sustainable will pave the way for a more equitable and compassionate future. This policy brief proposes a multifaceted approach to alleviate the burden of caregivers, including: greater investment in social services, the unionisation of care workers, fairer remuneration of unpaid labour, the reformation of the working day, and the establishment of public education campaigns. The ultimate goal is to create an economic model that truly values care work, ensuring equity and justice for all. Care work is not just work; it is the very essence of who humans are.
