THE absence of a legal definition of caregiving and no legal framework as yet for the protection of caregivers have held back the sector that is said to have the potential to create about seven million jobs by 2035. Insufficient investments and an incomplete legislative framework for care work are listed as significant challenges in the sector, as a study 鈥斅� Decent Work for Care Workers: Context, Challenges and Way Forward 鈥� that the International Labour Organisation and the Bangladesh Institute of Labour carried out has suggested. The findings of the study were made public in Dhaka on October 29 at a discussion that marked International Day of Care and Support. The report says that a formal recognition of care givers as legitimate workers by employing a systematic approach is crucial for the empowerment of the caregivers to organise, engage in labour rights discussions and advocate improved working conditions. The report identifies that the caregiving sector is often characterised by gender disparities, with women being disproportionately represented in low-paid and insecure roles. The care work has remained undervalued, frequently mired in unfair wages, an absence of protection and recognition, especially for the women who predominantly occupy the roles although care work is important for society.
The findings show that temporary employment is the most common form in the caregiving sector, accounting for 48.6 per cent, with permanent employment trailing, accounting for 38.2 per cent. It shows that 75 per cent of the caregivers require to work longer hours with no provisions for proper overtime. Of the workers who receive overtime payment, 63.6 per cent work for more than two additional hours and 36.4 per cent are not compensated keeping to the provision for twice the normal rate for overtime work; and 52 per cent of healthcare workers are especially vulnerable to risks of expulsion from job without notice. In the event of expulsion from job, 36 per cent of the workers never receive entitled benefits whilst 33.3 per cent sometimes receive such benefits. The study further says that workers face significant risks at work, including exposure to diseases and viruses by 57.1 per cent, physical hazard by 30.1 per cent and potential injuries such as burns by 17.3 per cent. Key policies such as the National Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy have not been fully enforced, leaving many workers without legal protection. An absence of adequate support from employers and the government such as maternity leave, health care and child care adversely affect both worker鈥檚 productivity and household finances.
Care needs to continue to expand and diversity, especially as the care community carries significant potential for employment generation. It is, therefore, imperative that the government shore up issues in the caregiving sector with the required formal recognition and legal framework, paving the way for job creation that is needed for a huge number unemployed people. The government should proceduralise the sector early.
