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The care economy has enormous potential for employment generation; however, much care work remains unremunerated or undercompensated. As global care needs grow due to shifts such as the growing aging population, innovative solutions to the employment of care workers and the provision of care are needed. Rooted in values of social justice, equity, democracy and decent work for all, cooperatives are emerging one such solution. Yet much remains to be understood about the provision of care through cooperatives, and about cooperatives as employers of care workers.

In an effort to address this gap, the ILO Cooperatives Unit (COOP) and the Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch (GED) have embarked on a global mapping of the provision of care through cooperative enterprises.

Preliminary findings from the study suggest that for care workers, cooperatives oftentimes provide higher wages, offer more benefits like maternity leave, and extend greater bargaining power. For care recipients, cooperatives promote ownership and control over health and well-being, and provide avenues into new social networks. Despite these positive results, cooperatives in the care sector face pressing challenges, including funding needs, a complex policy and legal environment, and limited visibility in the care sector. Other themes explored in the study include how cooperatives affect female care workers’ work-life balance, and the growing potential of social media and youth leadership in cooperatives that provide care.

 

The following presentations will be delivered:

  1. A global mapping of care through cooperatives: Preliminary findings by Lenore Matthew, Research Intern, ILO Cooperatives Unit (COOP) & Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch (GED)
  2. Labour market inclusion and care provision: The experience of Italian cooperatives by Claudia Fiaschi, Vice President, Coopermondo & Confcooperative


The webinar can be accessed here.

Poster is available here.

 

Date:
22/10/2015
Time:
13:00 - 14:30
Location:
Library Reading Room
Categories:
Discussion
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