Resources

Many scholars and organizations study carework to find solutions to increase the status of and recognition for caregivers and careworkers in society. A key organization in these efforts is the International Labor Organization (ILO) and we use relevant ILO conventions and recommendations to set our benchmarks for scoring a country’s performance in the GCPI. But the ILO has many other resources available for researchers, activists, and members of the public interested in carework issues.

Relevant Reports

• • ILO 2018 Report: Care work and care jobs for the future of decent work

Key ILO Conventions

Elaboration from the ILO website: International labor standards are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO’s constituents (governments, employers and workers) and setting out basic principles and rights at work. They are either Conventions (or Protocols), which are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states, or Recommendations, which serve as non-binding guidelines. A Convention lays down the basic principles to be implemented by ratifying countries. Once a standard is adopted, member states are required under article 19(6) of the ILO Constitution, to submit it to their competent authority (normally Parliament) within a period of twelve months for consideration. In the case of Conventions, this means consideration for ratification. If it is ratified, a Convention generally comes into force for that country one year after the date of ratification. Ratifying countries undertake to apply the Convention in national law and practice and to report on its application at regular intervals. Technical assistance is provided by the ILO, if necessary. In addition, representation and complaint procedures can be initiated against countries for violations of a Convention that they have ratified.

Relevant ILO Conventions for the GCPI:

• • C102 – Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952
  • C143 – Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975
  • C156 – Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981
  • C183 – Maternity Protection Convention, 2000
  • C189 – Domestic Workers Convention, 2011

Relevant ILO Recommendations for the GCPI:

• • R151 – Migrant Workers Recommendation, 1975
  • R191 – Maternity Protection Recommendation, 2000
  • R165 – Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation, 1981 
  • R201 – Domestic Workers Recommendation, 2011

ILO Normlex: Ratifications by Country

The ILO Normlex: Ratifications by Country website allows one to find out which conventions each country has or has not ratified, and which conventions are in force.

Relevant Videos

• • ILO: What is Decent Work? 
  • UN Women: What is the real value of unpaid work? 
  • ILO: Life as a domestic worker