Thursday, September 5, 2024

Speaking up for Caregivers

Wayne Prins addressed delegates to the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, this past June about our collective need to do more for those working in the care economy

Guide Magazine

The annual conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) is a very big stage, one where international labour standards are crafted and adopted. It’s a stage where diverse views are welcome and shared to reach a common understanding for bettering the lives of workers around the world.

On the agenda at this year’s conference were discussions on the protection of workers against the effects of climate change and biological hazards, the care economy, and fundamental principles and rights at work.

At a plenary session, Wayne Prins (pictured above), CLAC’s executive director and president of the World Organization of Workers (WOW), presented on the care economy, which constitutes 381 million jobs globally—about 11.5 percent of total employment. Here is an excerpt from his speech.

“Human flourishing can take many forms. Yet, one of the hallmarks of a thriving society is the ability, the willingness, and the imperative to care for the vulnerable. From childcare to elder care, from support services to education to healthcare, care workers are essential to meeting the physical and psychological needs of people of all ages. We depend on them to sustain human, social, and economic development on every level.

“Yet much too often, care workers—those who dedicate their lives and careers to caring for others—are vulnerable themselves. They are underpaid, overextended, and overwhelmed.

“Too often they do not have enough hands or enough resources. Too often they are victims of workplace violence. Too often they cannot adequately provide for themselves or their families. Too often they do not receive the gratitude they deserve for caring for us, our children, or our parents.

“WOW and its member affiliates represent some 1.3 million workers worldwide, hundreds of thousands of whom work in the care economy, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The realities care workers face around the globe are not all the same. And the solutions will need to be different, too.

“Working together, we can use our collective voice to advocate for policies and practices that make it easier for women to have both families of their own and rewarding careers. We can encourage governments to provide adequate resources for front-line caregivers, who often bear the brunt of worker shortages while being paid the least. We can insist that care workers have a seat at the table when governments grapple with issues that affect them. We can increase public awareness and support for the indispensable contributions care workers make to the well-being of all.

“I encourage you all in the work to be done to improve the lives of those working in the care economy. We have the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to speak to their challenges and provide solutions.”

Wayne Prins, CLAC executive director, presents on the care economy at a plenary session of the 112th Session of the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland

Speaking up for Caregivers

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