Family-Friendly Policies for Workers in the Informal Economy: Protecting and ensuring social protection and care systems for all children and families in the context of COVID-19 and beyond

Early Childhood Development Action Network

Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented, disastrous impact on the ability of people to balance work and care for their children and families. Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), UNICEF, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are advocating for family-friendly policies to protect and ensure social protection and care systems that are good for children, good for women, and good for the economy. The webinar will share findings detailed in a policy brief that features an increased focus on the well-being and working conditions of caregivers in the informal economy. The brief highlights the need to consider sustainable policy and protection responses instead of quick, short-term measures for more disability inclusive, gender-transformative, and equitable solutions.

On November 18, 2021, we invite ECD implementers and researchers to join in a deep dive on the need for ensuring family-friendly policies and care systems for workers in the informal economy. Through the webinar we aim to better understand government experience in the implementation of inclusive family-friendly policies, and challenges and successes. We will also explore legislative frameworks, policies, government interventions, and role and responsibilities of key stakeholders in creating an enabling environment to implement family-friendly policies.