Experts Call For National Policy On Unpaid Care Work

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Farm Radio International (FRI), in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada, have called for a national policy on unpaid care work to address the disproportionate burden placed on women.

The country representative of FRI Ghana and other West African Anglophone countries, Benjamin Fiafor, made the call yesterday in Abuja during a one-day national dialogue.

Fiafor, while making his remarks, stated, „We have to focus on the issue of gender, stating that care workers, irrespective of gender, need to get paid.“

„FRI focuses on improving the lives of rural Africans through the world‘s most accessible communication tools radio and mobile phones,“ he said.

He emphasised the need for greater recognition and support for the vital role of care work in society.

 Meanwhile, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, represented by the director of women development at the ministry, highlighted the importance of care work, which has long been acknowledged as a vital aspect of a functioning society.

Ohanenye reiterated the increased pressure on households, particularly those headed by women, as they bear much of the burden of unpaid care work in society.

On her part, secretary for development at the high commission of Canada, Mel Camaganacan, expressed concern about the global issue of unpaid care work, which disproportionately affects women and girls.

She emphasised that according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) data, globally, women spend an average of 3.2 times the amount of time on unpaid care work compared to men, and this imbalance restricts opportunities for education, employment, and social engagement for women and girls.

Also, a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ifeoma Anyanwu said in a world where women are often underrepresented, the imperative for change has never been clearer.

She further said gender disparities extends beyond cultural traditions; it‘s about amplifying women‘s voices and shifting societal attitudes.