The Struggle to Count Women’s Labour: Recognizing the Economic Value of Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
This article addresses the systemic devaluation of women's unpaid care work, which is essential for the functioning of families and the economy. A 2023 UN report indicates that globally, women spend 2.8 more hours than men on unpaid care. In India, the lack of a legal framework to recognize this labor persists, although judicial interventions like the Madras High Court's ruling in 2023 have begun to acknowledge a wife's contribution to family assets. The authors advocate for structural changes, including social security credits for unpaid care and a reconfiguration of gendered social relations to ensure women's full participation in the formal economy.
Key Points
- Unpaid care work, including childcare and elder care, remains largely unacknowledged in national budgets and policy frameworks despite its critical economic role.
- The 'breadwinner' model of employment prioritizes formal labor, leading to the diversion of public resources away from social infrastructure like childcare.
- The Madras High Court recently ruled that a wife's domestic work entitles her to an equal share in property acquired during the marriage, recognizing her indirect contribution.
- Countries like Bolivia and Argentina have introduced laws or pension credits to recognize the economic value of domestic and care work.
Exam Facts
- A 2023 UN report shows women spend 2.8 times more hours than men on unpaid care work globally.
- Article 338 of the Bolivian Constitution recognizes domestic work as an economic activity that creates social welfare and wealth.
- The Madras High Court case 'Kannaian Naidu and Others vs Kamsala Ammal and Others (2023)' established a precedent for recognizing domestic labor in property rights.
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