Unequal burden of unpaid care work

The unpaid care and domestic work that women do hinders them from entering the mainstream labour market and climbing the occupational ladder, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.

The recognition of women's unpaid work has become crucial, as its monetary value stood at almost 40 percent of Bangladesh's GDP in fiscal 2016-17, they said.

The roundtable, titled "Importance of care economy to reduce domestic violence against women and girls", was jointly organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and The Daily Star.

Sayema Haque Bidisha, professor of Dhaka University's economics department,

presented her keynote at the event held at The Daily Star Centre in the capital. She said investment in infrastructure, like establishing tube wells for rural women, can help lighten domestic and care work.

To reduce the burden of unpaid work, governments can establish daycare centres, both in community and institution levels, and provide fiscal incentives like tax rebates, childcare vouchers, daycare schemes and allowance for private sectors for establishing community-based centres, she added.

MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam said, "We have to change the narrative of care work and dignify it, so that women who are involved in such work do not assume that they do nothing."

There is no scope to ignore the care economy, she added.

"SDG 5.4 mentions that it is absolutely crucial to recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work through provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies. Promoting shared responsibility within the household and family is also necessary," she said.

Shaheen Anam also insisted that care services be integrated into the mainstream labour market and necessary infrastructures developed to reduce the burden, so women can concentrate on paid work or involve themselves in home-based enterprises to earn a living.

Soma Dey, associate professor of DU's women and gender studies department, said awareness and advocacy are needed to change the patriarchal mindset towards household chores.

Umme Wara, assistant professor of DU's criminology department, said according to the constitution, everyone shall be paid for their work following the principle "from each according to their abilities, to each according to their work".

Prof Golam Rahman, editor of Ajker Patrika; Udisa Islam, chief reporter at Bangla Tribune; Naznin Akhter, journalist at Prothom Alo; Shuprova Tasneem, journalist at The Daily Star; and Sajida Islam Parul, journalist at Samakal, also spoke at the event.