Most unpaid care work within households is carried out by women. The 'unpaid care penalty' for women in the EU is estimated to reach €242 billion per year. EU action in the care sector has the potential for high returns for society. Fostering the 'equal earner – equal carer model' could generate benefits of between €24billion and €48 billion a year. EU action to promote affordable, high-quality care could produce an additional €90 billion to €160 billion in benefits each year. In this third and final episode of the chronicles on care work in the EU, Dr Meena Fernandes, and Dr Cecilia Navarra, policy analysts at the European parliamentary research service, will delve into how we can use policy to reverse the vicious cycle of care work and its negative consequences. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

social Europe (T)

DG EPRS

EPRS - Care work in the EU: Reversing the vicious cycle