Harare, (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has called on both the public and private sectors to recognise care work, whether paid or unpaid, as essential since it sustains families, communities, and the national economy.

In a statement to mark International Workers’ Day, ZGC chairperson Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe emphasized that care work forms the “backbone of our society” but continues to be undervalued and largely shouldered by women and girls.

“Care work both paid and unpaid supports the well-being of individuals, families, and communities, while contributing significantly to our country’s social and economic growth,” she said.

“However, care work is often undervalued, unrecognized, and insufficiently protected.”

Mukahanana-Sangarwe highlighted that despite constitutional guarantees of equality and labour rights, systemic inequalities persist, while women remain under-represented in decision-making positions and continue to bear the greater burden of unpaid domestic and care work.

She noted that section 17 of the Zimbabwean Constitution mandates gender balance in all spheres of life, while section 65 guarantees fair labour practices and reasonable wages.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe enshrines the principles of equality and non-discrimination, mandating equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender,” she said.

“Recognizing care work as work is crucial because it acknowledges the essential role of care workers in sustaining health, education, and economic progress.”

Mukahanana-Sangarwe called for the adoption of policies aligned with the “3Rs” and “5Rs” frameworkss namely Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute, Reward, and Represent to ease the burden of unpaid care work and promote decent work for paid care workers.

She further called for gender-responsive care infrastructure in workplaces and communities to ensure women can participate fully in the economy.

“We urge all sectors—government, private institutions, and communities—to acknowledge that care work is not solely a woman’s responsibility but a collective one.”

Zimbabwe on Thursday joined the global community in celebrating Workers’ Day, which is commemorated on the first of May every year.

New Ziana