Series Statement:
Studies and Perspectives Series - The Caribbean 34
Content:
individuals spend their time, on a daily or weekly basis, is time-use surveys. These surveys take manydifferent forms to collect vital information which can be used to estimate not only the value of paid andunpaid work, but also the composition of the labour force. The time-use survey is the only available toolfor measuring unpaid care work and is also a more cost effective method of collecting timely and accuratedata on the gender division of labour within households and the interdependence of the paid and unpaidwork undertaken by women and men. This data can be used to enhance the formulation of evidence basedpolicies for pro-poor growth towards the achievement of gender equality and poverty reduction.While many countries in other regions, including Latin America have undertaken national timeusesurveys, the Caribbean remains the only region yet to carry out a full scale survey. This is deemed tobe another one of the major data gap in statistical systems in the Caribbean, where the valuation ofunpaid work is statistically invisible. This is a serious omission because it means that unpaid work,particularly unpaid care work, despite its important contribution to economic and social development, isnot reflected in the economic statistics used for policy making —namely the national accounts and theofficial labour market statistics.While definitions of care work vary, it can be described as a category of work which includesactivities carried out in the service of others, deemed crucial for human well being and economicdevelopment (Razavi, 2007). Care work is often differentiated from other types of work because it isintrinsically linked to labour undertaken out of a sense of duty, responsibility and love/affection, that is,it is often viewed as an emotionally driven occupation. The unpaid care work performed primarily bywomen, underpins all societies, contributing to well-being, social development and economic growth.Care work, whether paid or unpaid provides vital services to assist with the development of capabilitiesin human beings. It involves a variety of domestic tasks, such as the preparation of food, cleaning,washing and ironing of clothes, the collection of water and fuel for cooking, as well as, the care ofmostly dependant family members, including children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Carework is not only carried out immediate households, or for dependants, but also within communities. It is estimated that if unpaid care work were assigned a monetary value it would constitutebetween 10 and 39 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, it is generally unrecognisedand under-valued by policymakers and legislators.
Content:
I. What are time-use surveys? .-- II. Rationale for measuring unpaid work .-- III. Measuring time use .-- IV. Defining unpaid work, care work and unpaid care work .-- V. Unpaid care work and social services .-- VI. Mandates for measuring time use .-- VII. Regional mandates .-- VIII. Subregional mandates .-- IX. The results of time-use studies .-- X. Policy and unpaid work in the Caribbean .-- XI. Conclusion.
Note:
Includes bibliography
Language:
English
URL:
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