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A report released by UNI Global Union ahead of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) International Labour Conference calls for urgent measures to formalize the care sector and enhance union organizing. The report, titled "Accelerating Decent Work: Formalizing Home Care and Community Health Workers," highlights the necessity of securing workers' rights and building collective power to meet rising care demands.
Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, emphasized the importance of formalizing the care sector. "Formalizing the care sector is not only a matter of justice—it’s essential for building resilient, inclusive societies and delivering quality care. We can’t fix the global care crisis without improving care jobs," she stated.
The report presents data from over 8,700 worker responses and includes case studies from various regions such as Brazil, Nepal, and Washington State in the U.S., illustrating how union organizing has driven progress toward better protections in the care sector. It exposes challenges faced by workers globally: in Nepal, community health workers are unpaid volunteers; in Pakistan, workers face harassment; and in Colombia, family caregivers work multiple jobs without contracts or benefits.
