On Tuesday 23 September, the European Parliament’s Employment (EMPL) and Women’s Rights (FEMM) Committees held a joint meeting to present the own-initiative report ‘On advancing towards a care society: addressing the gender care gap’, drawn up by Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greek) and Rosa Estaràs Ferragut (EPP, Spanish). The aim is to reduce inequalities in the care environment, improve care systems and advance gender equality within the European Union.
The session opened with the presentation of a preparatory report by Meenakshi Fernandes, Political Analyst at the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). According to the Commission, “at least one in three people in the EU needs regular care”, whether they are young children, people with disabilities or the elderly. The expert also pointed out that “gender inequalities in care and support can explain at least a third of the pay gap between women and men”. And the majority of informal carers are women.
The EMPL committee’s co-rapporteur, Eleonora Meleti, called for this invisible work to be made visible: “Every moment of care, every hour devoted to someone who needs care, must be recognised and integrated, including in pension systems”, she declared.
She also highlighted the conditions faced by professionals in the sector, as well as the importance of recognising the millions of carers, often women, who shoulder a heavy burden without status or support.
Her co-rapporteur on the FEMM committee, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, urged that we “build a true ‘care’ society”, based on dignity, autonomy and well-being. In this sense, we need to “value the figure of the carer”, whether professional or informal, and distribute care responsibilities more equitably within families and society.
The EPRS report: https://aeur.eu/f/ikz
The draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/il1 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)