Women in Pakistan continue to bear the overwhelming burden of unpaid domestic and care work, a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed. Of the 117.4 million Pakistanis engaged in such labour, nearly 67 million are women. Their daily lives revolve around cooking, cleaning, tending livestock, and caring for children, the elderly, and the sick — often without rest, recognition, or remuneration. In comparison, less than half as many men perform similar tasks, and for significantly fewer hours.
This stark imbalance is not only a matter of gender inequality but also a critical economic concern. The ILO notes that women in Pakistan spend over 15 hours a week on unpaid work — more than double the time spent by men. This phenomenon, often referred to as “time poverty,” robs women of opportunities to pursue education, develop skills, or participate in paid employment. As a result, millions remain trapped in cycles of economic dependency, contributing to one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in South Asia. The ILO warns that this inequity widens the gender pay gap and prevents women from advancing into leadership roles — a situation Pakistan can ill afford to overlook.
Yet, reform is both possible and necessary. As a designated pathfinder for the Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection, Pakistan has access to international expertise that can help transform unpaid care work into decent, formalised employment. Encouraging examples already exist. The ILO’s Promoting Rights and Social Inclusion project, for instance, has successfully supported the unionisation of domestic workers in Punjab, marking a significant step towards acknowledging their rights. The registration of domestic worker associations and the drafting of employer codes of conduct are early but positive moves toward recognising this invisible workforce.
However, these efforts must be broadened beyond Punjab. Millions of informal workers across other provinces remain outside any legal or policy framework. To fully harness the potential of the care economy, Pakistan must translate commitment into concrete action. Setting minimum training standards, ensuring fair wages, and extending maternity and social protection benefits would not only improve livelihoods but also enhance national productivity.
The government’s pledge to raise health spending to 3 per cent of GDP within the next decade is a step in the right direction. But genuine transformation demands sustained investment, stronger regulation, and above all, public recognition of those who sustain households, hospitals, and communities through unpaid labour. Women’s invisible work silently subsidises Pakistan’s economy. Redistributing this burden — through fair policies, workplace reforms, and shared household responsibilities — is not just a question of justice. It is, in every sense, smart economics.
Shafaqna Pakistan
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