Addressing Policy Issues to Support Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Care Economy in Cameroon

Introduction and Background

Cameroon is a middle-income country with a population of more than 29.4 million [1]. It ranked 117 out of 146 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index in 2021 [2], indicating a significant gender gap. With an increasing global focus on women’s empowerment, Cameroon has made strong policy commitments and developed sound policy measures to support Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE), backed by changes in macroeconomic frameworks to enable an inclusive approach to economic growth [3]. Nevertheless, gender equality cannot be taken for granted and needs sustained attention in policy formulation and implementation. More women have been moving into paid work and increasingly leadership positions, yet globally, societal expectations, employer policies, the legal environment and the availability of care continue to play an important role in the choice of educational tracks and career paths for these women. Women remain disadvantaged at all levels of economic empowerment, especially in access to decent livelihoods, resource ownership, infrastructure, and services to meet their productive, reproductive, and household needs. This article seeks to address various policy issues required to support women’s economic empowerment within the care economy in Cameroon. The subsequent sections consist of the Care Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment, some challenges and barriers women encounter in terms of economic empowerment, and policy challenges affecting WEE and the care economy. This is followed by a variety of policy recommendations and future directions.

The Care Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment

Women bear a disproportionate share of the unpaid care work in most societies globally. Where these women also engage in low-paid or informal employment, the demands placed on them by such unpaid work can prevent them from participating in the labour force effectively trapping them in poverty. To frame our discussion of policy issues in this area, the concept of the care economy needs to be defined. The care economy refers to the set of activities, paid and unpaid, involved in the provision of care to some or all members of a household and communities requiring support [4]. Care activities are currently being provided by family members, communities, and social institutions. Most caregivers are women and girls, who give care up to four times more than boys or men, as the provision of domestic and unpaid care work is considered a female duty [5].

The demand for care services will increase across all countries as the result of several factors, including increases in female labour force participation, the growth of elderly populations, and an increasing focus on addressing inequality and disadvantage [6]. In most cases, women balance care for their dependents with paid work, so policy reforms that facilitate the response to this greater demand for care services should be seen as pro-poor and pro-women. When such services are expanded, the benefits triple to include direct improvements in the well-being of both the beneficiaries and their caregivers, higher economic output, and employment generation through the provision of care services and equalizing labour market opportunities, allowing women’s full economic participation.

Challenges Faced by Women in the Care Economy

Unpaid Care Work

Women spend more time than men on unpaid care and domestic work in every region of the world. In Cameroon, women generally perform the bulk of unpaid care work for the family [7]. This workload limits the time and energy available for women to engage in income generation. Consequently, this unequal balance contributes to devaluing female economic contributions and acts as one of the numerous barriers to women’s economic empowerment. In a country like Cameroon, which exhibits one of the world’s largest gender gaps, such barriers are worrying. Addressing these barriers and including in the tenets of national policies the need to reduce unpaid care work can potentially change some of the structural inequalities embedded in the home and society. The following fundamental problems guide the identification of a care economy policy agenda for Cameroon.

First, Cameroon has no state-backed official statistics on unpaid care work. Women’s work as caregivers is typically underestimated and not properly accounted for in national accounts and weighed disproportionately against women. It entails time-consuming activities such as cooking, cleaning, fetching clean water, and other caregiving roles depending on the specific household’s structure. Most of this work, especially the caregiving aspect of unpaid care work, is performed individually [8]. These activities usually require not only tiring efforts and poor equipment for many women living in poverty but also intensify the health risks associated with the physical and emotional stress of carrying them out, especially among women beyond reproductive years and young girls. Providing labour for the care economy thus reduces the time and energy left to engage in income-generating work, which can contribute to production, stimulate the economy, and reduce poverty. Women and girls are also sometimes compelled to work as caregivers to subsidize a care system. Such informal pay constraints to generate income are synonymous with exploitation. Women could be more involved in the formal labour market and join the global workforce if not for the pull of unpaid care obligations [9]. Small and medium-sized businesses air these actions to externalize the bulk of unpaid care work. As such, unpaid work is an economic imperative. We argue that if unpaid care work becomes more formal, women could overcome the current need for support mechanisms to secure their earnings, promote better employment opportunities, increase female savings, and ultimately escape poverty.

Lack of Recognition and Valuation

Cameroon’s public expenditure on public services, including child care and health services, is relatively low. Even though the Finance Law introduced some tax incentives and exemptions for companies to offer workplace childcare facilities, this policy is limited to only a few companies. These companies already had the facilities or were in the process of getting them because they could afford the costs. The Finance Law provisions will not stop or decrease Cameroon’s persistent high demand for childcare facilities. Most households with working-age women, especially in urban areas, are faced with inadequate financial resources to access childcare services. Yet, well-functioning, decent, and adapted childcare facilities in the formal labour market sectors would attract and keep more women in wage and self-employment.

Cultural Norms and the Lack of a Tangible Policy Framework

Traditional norms often position care work as a natural extension of women’s role. This cultural perspective can hinder the acknowledgement of care work’s value and prevent it from being incorporated into broader economic discussions. Likewise, there is a lack of comprehensive policies that defend care workers in Cameroon. Existing labour laws may not sufficiently protect or offer benefits for informal caregivers [10].

Policy Recommendations and Future Directions

Supporting women’s economic empowerment in the care economy in Cameroon encompasses addressing a series of major policy issues. The following are some vital considerations and future directions:

• Recognition of care work.

Policies should be re-directed to recognize the worth of unpaid care work, which most often falls on women. This comprises incorporating care work into national financial records and agendas for economic planning. This comprises incorporating care work into national financial records and economic planning agendas.

Access to Social Protection and Investment in Childcare Services

Setting up and extending social protection procedures such as maternity leave, childcare allowances, and pensions can help boost women involved in care work and promote more reasonable participation in the labour market. Intensifying public investment in reasonably priced, good quality childcare amenities would relieve women from certain care obligations, permitting them to pursue education and employment opportunities.

• Labour Rights and Protection

Enforcing labour laws to guarantee fair remunerations, safe working environments, and job security for women in the care sector is critical. This involves organizing the workforce to guarantee consent with labour standards.

• Support for Women Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Economic Policies  

Setting up inducements and support initiatives for women to start and grow businesses in the care occupational domain, including access to microfinance, grants, and business development services is necessary to encourage these women to work hard and contribute to economic development. Ensuring that economic policies remain gender-responsive and considering the unique challenges encountered by women, especially in the hinter lands, can contribute to more equitable economic growth.

• Data Collection and Research

Revamping research by enhancing data collection on women’s contribution in the care economy will help in comprehending the issues better and formulating effective policies.

• Gender- Gender-responsive budgeting

There is a need to reconsider government policy and budgetary frameworks within the care economy. This will enable women to be more vibrant actors in economic development. Gender-responsive budgeting measures can help to build women’s awareness about accountability and more responsive governance.

Conclusion

To promote women’s economic empowerment in Cameroon’s care economy, this article aimed to analyze the important policy concerns. Analysis reveals that despite the government’s political engagement in gender equality and economic inclusion, women continue to bear a disproportionate amount of the burden of low and unpaid care work, which restricts their ability to participate in the labour market and make economic decisions. To solve this issue, this article suggests policy interventions to recognize, redistribute, and reduce care work. Paying attention to these policy issues, the Government of Cameroon can make remarkable strides in fostering women economic empowerment within the care economy. Thus, leading to a more balanced society and sustainable economic development.