Care work, both paid and unpaid, is crucial to the future. In fact, the growth of the care economy will create a great number of jobs in the coming years as the demand for childcare and care for the elderly is increasing due to growing populations, ageing societies, women’s secondary status in labour markets and shortcomings in social policies. However, care work across the world remains characterised by a lack of benefits and protections, low wages or non-compensation, and exposure to physical, mental and, in some cases, sexual harm. It is clear that new solutions to care are needed both in regards to the nature and provision of care policies and services, and to the terms and conditions of care work.

With the global demand for domestic workers expected to rise, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has designated 29 October as the International Day of Care and Support, highlighting the Resolution on Decent Work and the Care Economy, adopted by the International Labour Conference of the ILO in June 2024. This day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2023, which also stressed the need to recognize and value care work and care workers as essential workers and the need to adopt measures that combat stereotypes related to race, gender, ethnicity, age and migratory status.