On March 12, in the framework of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), PSI reaffirmed its role as the global union representing care workers in all sectors (public, private, non-profit and community), in all regions and professional levels of health services, long-term care, social care and education. During the virtual event "The human right to care in the global commitments of Beijing +30", PSI General Secretary Daniel Bertossa underlined the urgency of consolidating the right to care as a pillar of social justice and of guaranteeing universal and high quality public care systems.

Bertossa highlighted the relevance of PSI's care agenda and alliance-building efforts, which have placed the Manifesto for Care at the center of the global debate. This document is an unprecedented call to action to advance social justice by recognizing care as an autonomous human right. "We cannot allow care to remain an individual responsibility or a commodity accessible only to those who can afford it. It is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed by the state through public investment and effective regulation," she said.

Margarita López, vice president of the PSI World Women's Committee, also participated in the event and stressed the importance of recognizing care as an autonomous human right.

In her speech, Lopez emphasized that "care is not a privilege, it is a human right that must be guaranteed by the State and protected from commodification". She also stressed that the struggle for universal and quality care systems is closely linked to the defense of decent work for workers in the sector, who have historically been made invisible and precarious.

PSI's participation in this event responds to a global strategy that seeks to consolidate the recognition of care as a human right and not only as an individual or family responsibility.

Two approaches in the global debate on the right to care

During her presentation, Lopez explained that, at the international level, two key approaches to the right to care have emerged. In 2022, the European Care Strategy and the Buenos Aires Commitment placed the issue at the center of the political agenda, albeit from different perspectives.

On the one hand, the European Strategy focused on improving working conditions in the care sector, promoting collective bargaining, social dialogue and occupational health and safety standards. In contrast, the Buenos Aires Commitment took a broader view, recognizing the right to care in three fundamental dimensions: the right to be cared for, the right to care and the right to self-care.

However, Lopez warned that none of these initiatives has placed sufficient emphasis on the need to guarantee public, accessible and quality care systems.

PSI's role in the fight for public systems of care

López explained that PSI has structured its strategy around three fundamental axes: the struggle for the recognition of care as a human right, the promotion of universal and quality public care systems, and the defense of decent work for women workers in the sector. "We cannot talk about social justice without addressing care work. It is an essential sector for life and must be treated as such," she said.

Among the main actions PSI has pushed for are the promotion of formal employment in the sector, ensuring sufficient staffing to meet quality standards, and defending the trade union rights of care workers. This includes unionization, collective bargaining and the struggle for fair wages, safe working conditions and protection against violence and harassment.

However, one of the main barriers to advancing this agenda is the increasing commodification of care. In many countries, care services have been privatized or operate under public-private partnership (PPP) schemes, which has further casualized employment in the sector and reduced access to services for those with fewer resources. "The commodification of care is a threat to social justice. We cannot allow access to a human right to depend on people's ability to pay," warned Lopez.

Another major challenge is the impact of austerity policies on the ability of states to invest in care services. In many countries, budget cuts have directly affected the quality and availability of these services, generating a greater burden for families, especially for women. Faced with this situation, PSI advocates for a progressive tax system that allows for sustained investment in the sector and ensures its expansion and continuous improvement.

"The commodification of care has generated profound inequalities and has made women workers in the sector even more precarious. It is time for states to assume their responsibility and guarantee public, accessible and quality care services for all people," said Bertossa.

PSI has led the struggle to make the sector's working conditions visible and demand structural changes that allow access to full labor rights, better working conditions and professional recognition for those who support care systems. Among the main actions that PSI has promoted are the promotion of formal employment in the sector, the guarantee of sufficient staffing to meet quality standards and the defense of the trade union rights of care workers. This includes unionization, collective bargaining and the struggle for fair wages, safe working conditions and protection against violence and harassment at work.

Another major challenge is the impact of austerity policies on the ability of states to invest in care services. In many countries, budget cuts have directly affected the quality and availability of these services, placing a greater burden on families, especially women. In light of this situation, PSI advocates for a progressive tax system that allows for sustained investment in the sector and ensures its expansion and continuous improvement.

PSI thanked its partner organizations for their support in this new stage of work, their commitment to social justice and the joint struggle that must continue to make the right to care a reality for all people. This event, organized together with DAWN Feminist, ActionAid, Oxfam, Center for Economic and Social Rights, GI-ESCR, Global Alliance for Tax Justice, Tax Justice Network and The African Women's Development and Communication Network, reaffirmed the importance of continuing to build strategic alliances to promote policies that guarantee universal access to care.

In this context, "PSI reaffirms its commitment to continue leading the global struggle for quality public care systems and for the recognition of care as a human right. There is no social justice without justice in care, and there is no justice in care without labour rights for those who support it," concluded Bertossa.