Global care chains in the world result from two crises: the care crisis in migration destination countries, where an increasing demand for care labour exceeds the supply; and the crisis of social reproduction in countries of origin, which causes households to be unable to secure social reproduction and to seek new survival strategies. In response to these crises, more and more women are migrating autonomously.

A discussion on the formation of global care chains provides an excellent position from which to examine the relationship between care work, migration, gender and development. The virtual discussion will consider how care work and migration intersect, the new transnational dimensions of the sexual division of labour, as well as policy challenges.   

The discussion will begin by looking at how the care system currently in place is invisible. Today there is little public debate on how to organize care and it forms no part of public policy. The participants will also consider why care is usually seen as the responsibility of women in the household and not a responsibility of society. The ability to give and receive appropriate care is a determining factor of inequality and social exclusion; the line between decent and poor quality care distinguishes privileged from underprivileged social groups.

The discussion will be based on two of UN-INSTRAW’s working papers from the series “Global Perspectives on the Social Organization of Care in the Care Crisis.”

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To participate in the discussion you must be a member of the Gender and Migration Virtual Community (www.un-instraw.org/grvc).
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