Onome Amuge
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has made an appeal to world leaders, employers, and workers to make sustained investments in the global care economy, describing it as “the backbone of well-being, social justice, and sustainable development.”
Gilbert F. Houngbo, the ILO director general made the call while speaking recently to mark the International Day of Care and Support. Houngbo cautioned that the world is sitting on what he described as a “silent economic fault line,” referring to the vast and undervalued sector of unpaid and underpaid care work that sustains the global economy but continues to receive little policy attention or funding.
“We all need care and support throughout our lives. Whether as persons with disabilities, older persons, children, or caregivers, our shared humanity depends on a culture of care,”Houngbo said.
The ILO chief’s remarks come at a time when economic policymakers are faced with how to revive inclusive growth, tackle unemployment, and respond to widening gender inequalities.
According to the ILO, care work (paid and unpaid)accounts for nearly 10 per cent of global employment, encompassing child care, eldercare, health services, domestic work, and support for persons with disabilities. Yet, despite its size and social importance, the sector remains largely informal, undervalued, and poorly compensated.
The ILO noted that women perform nearly three-quarters of all unpaid care work globally, often without recognition, social protection, or adequate pay. In monetary terms, the ILO estimates that the economic value of unpaid care work would equal over 9 per cent of global GDP,if measured.
In Nigeria, analysts note that the situation mirrors global trends. With limited childcare infrastructure, inadequate eldercare facilities, and cultural expectations that women manage domestic responsibilities, many female workers are forced to exit or limit participation in the labour market.
A 2024 World Bank gender report estimated that Nigeria loses the equivalent of $6–8 billion annually in productivity because of women’s unpaid care responsibilities. For a country battling high unemployment and low female labour participation, these numbers are considered worrisome.
The ILO argues that the neglect of the care sector not only perpetuates gender inequality but also constrains overall economic potential. “When care workers are supported, societies thrive. But when they are ignored, everyone pays the price,” Houngbo said.
Economists say this “price” includes reduced economic output, higher burnout rates among workers, and declining birth rates in countries where families cannot afford care services.
For businesses, the cost manifests in lost productivity. Studies show that firms in countries with weak care infrastructure experience higher employee turnover and absenteeism, particularly among women and working parents.
Houngbo pointed out that care policies are not just social investments, noting that they are business enablers. “Businesses gain when care and support systems are in place.They help retain and attract skilled workers, reduce burnout, and create inclusive, innovative workplaces where everyone can contribute,” he said.
The argument resonates in post-pandemic economies where remote work, mental health, and work-life balance have become defining labour issues.
At the centre of the ILO’s global call to action is a comprehensive framework designed to help countries build a fair and sustainable care economy. The organization’s Resolution on Decent Work and the Care Economy, adopted in 2024, provides a practical roadmap for developing and funding inclusive care systems.
This roadmap is anchored on what Gilbert F. Houngbo described as the “5R Framework for Decent Care Work.” It calls on all stakeholders to recognise care work in economic, social, and labour policies, reduce the burden and time demands of unpaid care work through improved technology and services, redistribute care responsibilities between men and women as well as among families, employers, and the state, reward care workers fairly through decent pay, working conditions, and protections, and represent care workers in policymaking and social dialogue.
“This framework provides a compass for a just and inclusive care future. When applied to disability inclusion, it ensures that no one is left behind,” Houngbo said.
The ILO’s position aligns with growing calls from development economists and gender advocates for countries to “count care in national accounts”—that is, to integrate unpaid care contributions into GDP measures and policy planning.
While the call for public investment in care systems has dominated international discourse, Houngbo stressed that businesses and employers must play a more active role.
“Private-sector employers stand to benefit directly from robust care and support systems. It’s about talent retention, employee well-being, and productivity,” he said.
Large firms in Europe and Asia have already begun to see the returns on care-sensitive policies. For example, companies offering on-site childcare or flexible parental leave have recorded lower turnover rates and higher employee satisfaction.
In Nigeria’s context, experts argue that similar corporate investment could ease the burden on women in the workforce. Multinational firms operating in Nigeria’s finance, energy, and tech sectors are already experimenting with subsidized childcare, flexible work hours, and family leave policies, but these remain limited to high-paying formal jobs.
For the informal sector, where over 80 per cent of Nigerian women work, the lack of social protection or care infrastructure remains a formidable barrier.
The ILO’s campaign reflects a larger shift in global development thinking, from viewing care as a social issue to recognising it as an economic growth driver.
In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognised the International Day of Care and Support, signalling the rising global consensus that formalising and professionalising care work is key to sustainable growth.
According to UN Women, achieving gender parity in unpaid care work could increase global GDP by $10 trillion by 2030, primarily by expanding women’s economic participation.
For emerging economies like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, investment in care infrastructure could double as a job creation strategy. The ILO estimates that if countries invest an additional 3–4 per cent of GDP in care systems, the result could be hundreds of millions of new jobs globally, while narrowing gender and income gaps.
