International Day of Care and Support on October 29 highlights work of caregivers

In everyday life, some people quietly and without fanfare hold up the foundations of the family and society. Parents, nurses, teachers, domestic helpers, social workers and caregivers constantly support others. To formally honour the contribution of these unseen heroes, the International Day of Care and Support is observed across the world on October 29 every year.

The main aim of the day is to convey that caregiving is not merely an individual or family responsibility, but a mainstay of the progress and economy of the whole society.

In today's hurried times, care work is often taken for granted or ignored. Women contribute enormously to household chores and to the upbringing of the elderly and children, but this finds no place in economic measurement. Against this background, the United Nations (UN) began the day at the global level. Whether they are young children, the elderly or persons with disabilities, everyone should receive care and support with dignity, it says.

One important aspect of the day is to win formal recognition for women's unpaid care work and poorly paid care work. According to figures from around the world, women's share of household care work is many times that of men. Looking after children, caring for sick and elderly relatives, cooking and housework force many women to limit their education and careers.

When a woman looks after the members of her family, she indirectly contributes to the country's economy too. Because of her support, other family members can step out of the house and raise economic productivity. The UN and various international organisations are stressing that care work, or the care economy, should be properly valued, and that the burden should not fall on women alone but be shared equally between the men of the family and society.

Caregivers in society fall into two main types. The first is formal or paid care workers, such as hospital nurses, caretakers, special educators and domestic workers. The second is informal or unpaid caregivers, such as parents, children or relatives. Both need proper respect, assurance of safety and financial support in society.

Care workers in the formal sector often face low pay, long hours and a lack of social security. Caregivers who serve within families, on the other hand, face mental stress and exhaustion, known as caregiver burnout. The day on October 29 reminds the government and policymakers that firm laws and infrastructure must be put in place to protect the rights of caregivers, give them fair remuneration and provide medical facilities.

The day teaches that a truly inclusive and compassionate society is built only when everyone, especially children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, receives adequate care and empathy. Awareness campaigns, webinars, workshops and policy discussions are held across the world on the occasion.

Thanking the caregivers around us, appreciating their work and giving them emotional and social support is a collective responsibility of all of us. The day will be truly meaningful if care and support are seen not as a favour but as a basic right of every person and a main pillar of society.