The impact of ‘compensating’ women for hours of unpaid care work on household poverty

Abstract

Estimating the effect of ‘compensating’ women for unpaid care work on household poverty levels, we used Time Use Survey data for 2000 and 2010 to estimate time spent on unpaid care work, and Post-Apartheid Labour Market Series to estimate earnings for both 2000 and 2010. To achieve this, we used the Economy- wide Mean wage approach, the Opportunity Cost Average wage approach, and the Generalist wage approach. In line with literature, we confirm that, on average, women spend more time on unpaid care work than men do, and that women's average earnings are lower than that of men. We found that the estimated monthly ‘compensation’ does indeed reduce the level of household poverty. However, the Generalist wage approach compensation had the least impact on household poverty levels. Unpaid care work affects women all around the world. While some countries have made progress in recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work, women continue to bear the brunt of the burden. Governments have a role to play in encouraging a more equitable distribution of unpaid household care duties. Flexible work hours and shared parental leave are two options for businesses to facilitate more equitable split of unpaid family care duties and assist women in achieving a better work/life balance.