The ILO study reveals that investing in policies that support universal childcare leaves, breastfeeding breaks, childcare services, and long-term care services in seven Latin American countries could generate 25.8 million direct and indirect jobs. The majority of these jobs (9 out of 10) would be formal and about 8 out of 10 would be occupied by women.
“It is urgent to invest in transformative care policies to generate decent work in the care sector, strengthen social protection systems and contribute to closing gender gaps in the labour market and in the distribution of care work.”
Paz Arancibia, ILO gender specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
The report calls for urgent investment in care policies to promote decent work in the care sector, strengthen social protection systems, and address gender gaps in the labour market and care work distribution. The study also highlights the challenges faced by countries in the region in terms of maternity, paternity, and parental leaves, with variations in duration, pecuniary benefits, and financing.
The report is available in Spanish.