Technical Care Board (MeCuida) and the National Care Policy proposal in Honduras
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Technical Care Board (MeCuida) and the National Care Policy proposal in Honduras
I-2 Geographical coverage
HND
I-2-A Region/country
Honduras
I-2-R Region
Americas
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2023
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Civil society, including NGOs
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-6-A Specify how the ILO was involved
The ILO conducted an assessment of care-related services in the regions of El Paraíso and Comayagua. The ILO has ensured that the voices of care workers are included in participation forums. A roadmap was created for the implementation of the Social Care Organization Model and cooperatives.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
Yes
I-7-A Specify agency names
UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF
II-1 Justification of the initiative
Honduran women perform between 75% and 80% of domestic tasks in Latin America, according to ECLAC and UN Women. Additionally, there is minimal state involvement in the provision of care services, and coverage for the population in need of care is very limited. These services are primarily concentrated in urban areas, with a significant decrease in rural zones. A large proportion of care work is carried out by volunteers. Finally, the existing services are mainly directed towards highly vulnerable populations.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Education
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Micro enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Small enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Medium enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Not applicable
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employees
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employers
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Own-account workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Domestic workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Community health and care workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Primary and secondary school teachers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Workers in the informal economy
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Men
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Mothers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Fathers
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, through social dialogue
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
Establishing the Comprehensive Care System, including creating a draft bill for the Comprehensive Care System law in Honduras, validating an integrated public care policy, and coordinating an awareness campaign. Pilotos de cooperativas del cuidado con sector privado y público.
II-3 Type of initiative
National/local law
II-3 Type of initiative
Policy / strategy
II-3 Type of initiative
Plan / roadmap
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Reward care workers
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Employment policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Social Protection policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Design and implement integrated and coherent care policies and systems for decent work and gender equality
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Mainstream care into relevant public policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the undervaluation of care work by raising public awareness
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Preventing and addressing all forms of discrimination against care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Ensuring effective access to labour protection and social security, including through labour inspection, for all care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Policies and strategies on working time, wages, and occupational safety and health, including preventing and addressing violence and harassment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Collecting and disseminating data on unpaid and paid care work
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Care recipients (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban and rural
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
A main result is the implementation of the Technical Care Board (MeCuida), whose aim is to formulate a bill and a public policy on care. Development of various care assessments conducted by different institutions: Care Policy Diagnosis, Care and Domestic Work Diagnosis, and the Women's Agenda for Care. Participatory dialogue established with various workers' and women's organizations for the design of the future Care System.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
A mapping of care services and an analysis of the intersections between care and a just transition have been conducted, which is quite innovative for the region.The MeCuida initiative is a wide, multi-stakeholder initiative, making this an innovative example of participatory consultations for policy-making.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
Political instability, electoral processes, and shifting government priorities. Conventions 189 and 156 have not been ratified. Care services are concentrated in urban areas, with many volunteers providing these services. They are primarily directed towards highly vulnerable populations
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
A context of violence reduces the possibilities for implementing a care policy.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
Key relations with international cooperation
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
It's important to consolidate the leadership of the care system and include decent work as a cross-cutting axis.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
Coordination with cooperatives to address care services
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports