The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) marked the International Day for Care and Support on October 29 with a call for governments to turn global commitments on care into real action, recognising it as a human right and a cornerstone of decent work.
The appeal follows two major global milestones: the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ 2024 ruling that care is an autonomous human right, and the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Resolution on Decent Work and the Care Economy, which provides a roadmap for fair, sustainable care systems worldwide.
Despite its vital role, care work—both paid and unpaid—remains undervalued and underfunded, largely performed by women who often face low pay, poor working conditions, and limited social protection.
The ITUC urged governments to:
Recognise care as a human right and public good;
Invest in public care services to boost job creation and gender equality;
Ensure fair wages, decent work, and protection for all care workers.
To advance the agenda, the ITUC will release a new report, Trade Unions Advancing the Care Agenda, highlighting how unions in Australia, Chile, and the Philippines are driving improvements in wages, conditions, and public investment in care.
The ITUC stressed that investing in care means investing in people, equality, and the future of work—making care a shared responsibility and a foundation for inclusive growth.
