TURNING UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK INTO DEVELOPMENT DIVIDENDS
ISSUES AFFECTING ASIA-PACIFIC Asia Pacific is seeing high economic growth and a lowering of poverty rates. For example, from 2002 to 2012, the number of those living on $1.90 a day fell from 1.135 billion to 456 million people, and the poverty headcount ratio declined from 34.6% to 13.9% (UNESCAP, 2016). HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT LOSS DUE TO INEQUALITY IS CLOSE TO 30% FOR SOUTH ASIA AND 20% FAR EAST ASIA. THIS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 13% IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA (UNDP, 2016) Persistent inequality lies at the root of the four key issues that the region is facing: ageing, urbanisation, climate change, and youth unemployment. Unpaid domestic and care work is an example of a persistent inequality, and tackling this has the potential to solve these development challenges. AGEING Asia-Pacific is a rapidly ageing region. By 2050, 25% o the population (1 billion people) are expected to be senior citizens. 1 in 2 working-age persons will support one senior citizen in China, Brunai Darussalam, Iran, Thailand and Viet Nam. (UNDP, 2016) CLIMATE CHANGE Asia-Pacific is the most vulnerable region to climate change risks. Gendered roles that dictate for women to collect water and firewood, for example, make them dependent on natural resources that are increasingly depleting. (UNDP, 2016) PERSISTENT INEQUALITY URBANISATION In 2015, nearly half of the population lived in Asia-Pacific cities. By 2050, this is expected to increase to nearly twothirds. (UNDP, 2016) YOUTH UNEMLPOYMENT Even in ageing societies, the youth unemployment rate is typically 2 to 3 times higher than the total unemployment rate - and growing. Of the 358 million global youth who are not in education, employment or training, 220 million are from Asia-Pacific. (World Economic Forum, 2013)
WHAT IS UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK? 1. Domestic services for households and family members 2. Care services for household and family members 3. Volunteering or training Despite increasing economic growth over the last few decades, nations in this region are seeing widening inequalities when it comes to access to basic services. Across the globe, women spend on average more time than men in unpaid domestic and care work, thereby working longer hours each day. However, with the changing demographics of the region and increased risk of climate change, the burden of unpaid domestic and care work will increase for all individuals. UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK IS DEEPLY INTERLINKED WITH THE FOUR BIGGEST REGIONAL ISSUES Youth Unemployment Less likely for young people to be involved in armed conflict or end up victims of illegal migration and trafficking More job opportunities Increase in population leads to increased need for services negative impact positive impact Urbanisation Greater burden on women and girls as care givers Ageing Elderly remain in rural areas, leading to increasing need for care services Greater contribution to pension funds Transforming unpaid domestic and care work to paid work creates more jobs More education and training for girls More job opportunities Unpaid domestic and care work Women and girls released from unpaid work Women with income are more resilient in disasters Better infrastructure Women and girls have more time to access trainings on early warning systems and DDR meaning fewer casualties Migration to urban areas Loss of livelihood Increase in time and distance for collecting water and fuel Climate change
POLICY SUGGESTIONS ASSIGN A MONETARY VALUE TO UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK Data is critical for understanding the nature and magnitude of development challenges. Monetization of unpaid domestic and care work will provide evidence for policy needs, and raise public awareness of the challenge. DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT GENDER- RESPONSIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES REVIEW AND REVISE CONTRIBUTION-BASED PENSION SYSTEMS These, by design, penalize those who spend more time on unpaid care and domestic work. Because women perform a disproportionate amount of unpaid work, they contribute less to pension schemes than men and therefore receive less pension. Together with their longer life expectancy, this makes them more vulnerable in their old age. Tax systems that directly or indirectly endorse the division of labour based on gender stereotypes should also be revised. Pension and tax systems need to use individuals, rather than households/married couples, as a unit of measurement. Policy examples include the provision of stipends to those who are homemakers through social transfers, which is counted as their contribution to the pension system. DESIGN BETTER SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS These should accommodate individuals' needs to take time off from work and care for their households and family members. INVEST IN MAKING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT CAN REPLACE UNPAID CARE AND DOMESTIC WORK ACCESSIBLE These can replace unpaid domestic and care work as a means to achieve sustainable human development. INVEST IN DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROBOTICS TO REDUCE THE DRUDGERY OF UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK This includes increasing access to energy, water, and sanitation, as well as transportation (of people and of goods). MAKE EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROMOTING AND ENSURING WORK- FAMILY BALANCES AND NON-GENDER STEREOTYPING IN JOBS For example, ensure men's full uptake of parental leave. EMPLOYERS WITHIN THE CARE INDUSTRY SHOULD ADHERE TO THE DECENT WORK CONCEPT AND ENSURE APPROPRIATE REMUNERATION The implementation of the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific is costed at $800 billion - $1 trillion per year. Where should countries find the financial resources? A 2017 UNESCAP & ADB report has estimated that broadening the tax base and emphasising progressive income taxation could increase annual revenue by over $300 billion for 16 Asia-Pacific countries. Oxfam reported in 2017 that corporate tax dodging costs poor countries at least $100 billion every year.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF REDUCING AND REDISTRIBUTING UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK REDUCING AND REDISTRIBUTING UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK IS NOT ONLY A WAY TO TACKLE ISSUES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, BUT ADVANCES MANY SDGS TOO. GOALS 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 AND 10 HAVE EITHER GOALS OR TARGETS THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO UNPAID DOMESTIC AND CARE WORK. INCREASING SOCIAL INVESTMENT IN THE CARE SECTOR WILL HELP COUNTRIES ADVANCE GOALS 1-10 AND 16 IN INDIRECT WAYS TOO: No Poverty (through the creation of new jobs) Inclusive and equitable education Better access to affordable, reliable, modern energy Changing social norms and stereotypes Better nutrition with improved sanitation and water Gender equality and reduced violence against women Full and productive employment and decent work Inclusive and participatory decisionmaking Healthier lives Better access to water and sanitation Resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive, sustainable industrialisation fostering innovation WHAT DIFFERENT ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? PROVISION OF PARENTAL LEAVE, FAMILY CARE LEAVE, AND REDUCED/ FLEXIBLE WORK HOURS PRIORITISE INVESTMENT IN THE CARE SECTOR, AS WELL AS EDUCATION AND HEALTH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT GENDER- RESPONSIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES REVIEW TAX POLICIES AND SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A GENDER EQAULITY LENS ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER, SANITATION AND MODERN, CLEAN ENEGERY DOMESTIC RESOURCE MOBILISATION INNOVATIVE REVENUE GENERATION PRIVATE SECTOR CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: KOH MIYAOI GENDER TEAM LEADER koh.miyaoi@undp.org REGIONAL BUREAU FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME http://www.asia.pacific.undp.org/ The information in this brochure is taken from a 2018 report by UNDP titled, "Now is the time! Reduce and redistribute the unpaid domestic and care work burden of women for sustainable development."