Brazil prepares proposal for a National Care Policy and a National Care Plan

Debates on social security and gender equality were held during the 2nd Meeting of the Working Group on Employment, as part of the discussions of the world's top 20 economies at the G20. The impact of care policies on gender equality in the world of work was discussed by G20 delegates. According to data presented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), only 11 G20 countries have legislation with universal coverage for child care, while only 15% of them offer maternity leave protection. In addition, only 16 G20 nations have care policies for the elderly.

The Brazilian government's care policies were presented at the G20 by representatives of the Ministry of Social Development (MDS), the Ministry of Women (MM) and the Institute for Applied Research (IPEA). Among them were Laís Abramo, National Secretary of Care and Family of the MDS; Rosane Silva, National Secretary of Economic Autonomy and Care Policy of the MM; and Ana Amélia Camarano, Coordinator of Studies and Research in Gender, Race and Generations Equality at IPEA.

 National Care Policy

"The social organization of care in Brazil is unfair and unequal, and is based on a disproportionate responsibility of families for care, especially women." This statement was made by Laís Abramo, who occupies the new National Secretariat for Care and Family, created in 2023, in the government of President Lula, through the MDS. During her presentation, Laís pointed out that women's unpaid domestic and care work is twice than that of men, and may be underestimated. She also mentioned that 30% of women do not seek employment due to unpaid domestic and care work, with this burden being heavier for black women (32%) compared to white women (27%).

Laís announced that Brazil is preparing a proposal for a National Care Policy and a National Care Plan, expected to be delivered in May. This proposal, developed

jointly by the MDS and MM, aims to guarantee the right to care for all people who need it, recognizing and addressing the structural inequalities of Brazilian society, including gender, class, race, ethnicity, disability, and age. In addition, it seeks to promote a culture of co-responsibility between men and women in the family, community, market and companies.

Currently in Brazil, men are paid about 25% more than women in terms of salary, and this difference is even greater when considering race. White men are paid more than twice as much as black women, as pointed out by the 2023 National Data Survey (PNAD), presented by Rosane Silva. She also pointed out that about 31% of women interrupt their search for work due to domestic and care work. Rosane stated that the MM and MDS are working on the elaboration of a proposal for a National Care Policy, with the aim of guaranteeing the right to care for all people, promoting decent work for paid caregivers, and recognizing and redistributing unpaid care work, historically performed by women in Brazilian households. "The proposal we are developing aims to understand the needs of both those who receive care and those who care, so that care work is properly recognized, valued and distributed throughout Brazilian society," explained Rosane.

National Survey on Domestic and Care Work

The national survey on Domestic and Care Work, launched by the Brazilian government, in partnership between the Institute of Applied Research (IPEA) and the Ministry of Racial Equality, was explained by Ana Amélia Camarano, from IPEA. "In Brazil, there are approximately 47.5 million people involved in care, of which 78.0% are women - 55% of them being black women," she contextualizes.

She highlighted the importance of analyzing the profile of caregivers in Brazil, including those who work with care activities for the elderly, children, people with disabilities and in paid domestic service. Ana Amélia also stressed the need to consider various aspects of care, including who cares (women and men), who is cared for (people with disabilities, children and the elderly) and whether policies should be universal or focused.