PHM-Exch> Advancing Parental Social Protection for All

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) <wbw at waba.org.my>


Labour day statement 2018


Labour day statement 2018
Advancing Parental Social Protection for All

“*Social protection policies not only protect people from various shocks
across the life cycle, but also play a key role in boosting domestic demand
and productivity, supporting structural transformation **of national
economies, and promoting decent work*.”

-Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Office-


*Why do we need social protection*

Social protection and the right to social security have been an integral
element of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) mandate and
reflects the global tripartite commitment to guarantee at least a basic
level of social security. The importance of social protection for
sustainable development is reflected in several other goals, including
universal health coverage, gender equality, decent work and economic
growth, as well as greater equality.  Social protection plays a key role in
ensuring income security for women and men of working age, in the form of
maternity protection, unemployment support, employment injury protection,
and disability benefit. Well-designed social protection systems contribute
to reducing poverty and inequality, while enhancing social cohesion and
political stability. [1
<https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=d262e3bbf2&e=858833e631>
]

Social protection policies also support optimal breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is a cost-effective way to increase health, human capital and
stimulate economic growth. Globally, the cost of lower cognitive ability
associated with lack of breastfeeding amounts to about US$300 billion
annually, representing 0.49 percent of global gross national incomes.

*Elements of equitable social protection*

The key to an equitable social protection for all includes legislation,
positive attitudinal change and supportive work policies. This can be
achieved through an effective partnership between the tripartite
stakeholders (governments, employers, trade unions) and civil society
organisations to increase the supply of and demand for gender equitable
social protection that will lay a foundation for gender equitable social
protection measures such as paid parental leave. Paid parental leave
supports both parents to combine parenting (including breastfeeding) and
paid work. WABA together with *MenCare Global Fatherhood campaign*
<https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=9ecbd69d73&e=858833e631>
advocates
for governments and employers to adopt paid parental leave policies.
Parental leave, when enshrined in national policy, has the power to
contribute significantly to the recognition and redistribution of care work
and to transform deeply rooted inequalities between men and women. [2
<https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=a6c4842cb3&e=858833e631>
]

*Equitable social protection to promote involvement of fathers in care
responsibilities *

Adequate maternity protection, as well as paid paternity and parental
leave, recognise that both mothers and fathers have responsibilities as
breadwinners and caregivers, and contribute to achieving a more equitable
sharing of care responsibilities. Both mothers and fathers have important
roles in caregiving and interactions with their children. Mothers should
not be considered to be solely responsible for the care of a baby. Family
members, particularly fathers, are more likely to step up to take
responsibility when they understand how important their own part is in
securing the health and welfare of their child. The greater involvement of
fathers in child care not only has positive effects on children’s health
but also in parent–child interactions. Many countries have therefore
reformed their leave policies to facilitate greater involvement of fathers
in childcare through introducing or extending paternity leave, as well as
providing incentives to increase men’s take-up of parental leave. Parental
leave made available to both parents is also gender neutral, which protects
both parents from discrimination and gives fathers the opportunity of
increasing their involvement with the care of their children. Involved
fatherhood allows girls and women to achieve their full potential and also
makes men and families happier and healthier.

There are many things that we can do together.  Join us to:

   1. Advocate to ensure that maternity, paternity and parental protection
   measures are included as part of social protection coverage and
   entitlements at national level.
   2. Mobilise public awareness on parental social protection in order to
   eliminate barriers to gender equality.
   3. Build capacity and disseminate information related to parent-friendly
   work policies and support at the workplace.

On Labour Day 2018, WABA and partners call upon all stakeholders to join
the *Empowering Parents Campaign*
<https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=e50b186a5f&e=858833e631>
to
advocate for parental social protection that will enhance workers’ rights,
breastfeeding, health and survival and lead to achieving greater gender
equality and decent work.

For more information, please contact:
Revathi Ramachandran: revathi at waba.org.my
------------------------------




   1. http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---
   dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_604882.pdf
   <https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=4d337c57a3&e=858833e631>
   2. https://men-care.org/what-we-do/advocacy/paid-parental-leave/
   <https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=1aef66dacd&e=858833e631>
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