Oxfam Pilipinas, together with the Government of Canada, Oxfam Canada, and local organizations Labor Education and Research Network and Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan, launched “Care Connect: Action for Care Workers”, a four-year project designed to promote recognition of care work in the Philippines.

Care work—including child care, elderly care, and household work—is important for families and societies but remains undervalued and underrecognized. The “Care Connect” project seeks to address these gaps by promoting the recognition, redistribution, and reduction of unpaid care work.

During the project launch at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City, Oxfam Pilipinas Executive Director Lot Felizco emphasized the need to increase awareness on care work.

“Care work is not a luxury; it is a necessity. That is why we need to fight the misconception that care work is not work or that care work is the responsibility solely of women. Instead, care work deserves recognition, respect, and just compensation,” Felizco explained.

The launch event featured representatives from the government, civil society organizations, and advocacy groups, who came together to discuss strategies for advancing the rights of care workers.

“Canada is working in partnership with civil society and multilateral partners to target a key, yet often overlooked, barrier to gender equality through initiatives like Care Connect,” shared John Lok, Counsellor and Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Canada to the Philippines. He affirmed that “Canada is committed to addressing challenges in the care economy, thereby contributing to human well-being and sustainable development.”

Oxfam Pilipinas and its partners are calling on the government to prioritize care work—both paid and unpaid—through concrete measures. These include reducing the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women and girls and ensuring that paid care workers receive fair wages, equitable benefits, and safe working environments.

“Domestic workers are often not enrolled by their employers under social security programs like SSS. We hope that the government will ensure that we are given the same benefits as other workers,” said Melody Recto, National President of the United Domestic Workers of the Philippines (UNITED), citing that 83% of domestic workers in the country are not covered by social security benefits.

Supporting care work is critical to fostering equality in households, workplaces, and communities. “Care Connect” highlights the need to increase advocacy efforts and raise public awareness about the critical role of care work and urges to take action for a just and inclusive future for care workers and society.

“It is time to make care work public, universal, and inclusive—leaving no one behind. Let us come together to build a future where care work is respected, supported, and recognized for its invaluable contribution to society,” Felizco concluded.

For media inquiries, contact:

Mai Lagman (mai.lagman@oxfam.org.ph)

Policy Advocacy and Communications Manager, Oxfam Pilipinas