Training cycle and communications campaign on care, decent work and guidelines for the ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions Nos. 156 and 183 in Colombia
0-1 Original language
Spanish
I-1 Name of the initiative
Training cycle and communications campaign on care, decent work and guidelines for the ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions Nos. 156 and 183 in Colombia
I-2 Geographical coverage
COL
I-2-A Region/country
Colombia
I-2-R Region
Americas
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2025
I-3-B Initiative end date
2025
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Other (specify)
I-4-A Specification
International Labour Organization with a broad articulation with workers' organizations
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Private enterprise
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities
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
Within the framework of the ratification of Convention No. 156 (Dec 2024) and the progress towards the ratification of Convention No. 183 in Colombia, the ILO designed, in coordination with the Trade Union Centres (CUT, CGT, CTC), and with the participation of the Ministry of Labour and the business sector, the Training Cycle and communications campaign "What if we share care?". The ILO led a process of co-construction of content, technical validation with constituents and social dialogue, ensuring international normative relevance and application. The training process was structured through 4 virtual sessions and 2 face-to-face sessions, addressing the care economy from an intersectional approach that includes migration, rurality and ethnic women. In parallel, the ILO launched the communications campaign through a strategic alliance with "Economy for Pipol", amplifying messages on co-responsibility and gender equality in simple language for all people. The process focused on strengthening knowledge about Conventions Nos. 156 and 183, and the 5R Framework and its connection with public policies such as the National Council for Economic and Social Policy (CONPES 4143) of the National Care System and the labor reform. The ILO ensured that the training promoted normative knowledge, and the importance of social dialogue for the effective implementation of these instruments, making care visible as a human right and its component of decent work. With this technical contribution, the ILO seeks to reduce gender inequalities, protect people with family responsibilities and strengthen the capacities of constituents to apply international standards, thus contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the transformation of the social organization of care in Colombia.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
Yes
I-7-A Specify agency names
UN Colombia - UNIC - UN WOMEN - UNDP - UNFPA
II-1 Justification of the initiative
This initiative is justified by the urgent mandate established by the International Labour Conference (June 2024) to design integrated care policies, guided by the 5R Framework and based on tripartite social dialogue. In this context, the ratification of Convention No. 156 by Colombia (December 2024) and the progress towards the ratification of Convention No. 183, through Law 2357, require strengthening capacities for its effective implementation, especially before its entry into force in December 2025.The approval of the National Council for Economic and Social Policy (CONPES 4143) in February 2025, which adopts the National Public Policy on Care, and the creation of the National Care System (Law 2281 of 2023), represent regulatory milestones that require technical support to articulate international frameworks with national policies. This initiative promotes co-responsibility between the State, the private sector and civil society, and makes care visible as a human right and component of decent work.In addition, the initiative addresses the intersectional reality of the care economy in Colombia and the region, for example the overrepresentation of rural, Afro-Colombian or migrant women in poorly protected care work, gender gaps in the distribution of unpaid work (27 hours per week for migrant women vs. 11 for men), and the need to transform stereotypes that naturalize care as a female responsibility.Aligned with the ILO Plan of Action on Decent Work and the Care Economy, and with the Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda), this training and communication action seeks to accelerate the reduction of inequalities, strengthen social dialogue and generate practical guidelines for tripartite constituents to lead a structural transformation of the care system. guaranteeing rights for caregivers and workers in all their diversity.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
No sectoral focus
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
Cooperatives
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Other SSE entities (associations, mutual societies, foundations, self-help groups)
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-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Members of producers’ cooperatives
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
Personal care and/or assistance workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Nurses
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Long-term care / geriatric care workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Personal assistants / disability support workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Other health workers
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
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Ethnic and racial minorities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Migrants or forcibly displaced persons
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
Develop an information campaign that provides clear and accessible information on the recent ratification and entry into force of ILO Convention No. 156 (6 December 2025) and its Recommendation No. 165.Implement a training process that strengthens the understanding of key concepts of the care economy and the 5R Framework (recognition, reduction, redistribution, reward and representation), as well as the national and international regulatory framework – especially ILO Conventions Nos. 156 and 183 and their respective recommendations – articulating them with the principles of decent work and the promotion of inclusive care policies.
II-3 Type of initiative
Other normative / regulatory framework
II-3 Type of initiative
Training/capacity building
II-3 Type of initiative
Advocacy/campaign/awareness-raising
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-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Representation of 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?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Labour Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Migration policies
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 unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid work, and promoting women’s economic inclusion and autonomy beyond caregiving
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Comprehensive maternity protection and care leave and protection policies, including paternity, parental leave and long-term care leave
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Work-life balance policies and measures, including organization, time and location of work, and other terms and conditions of employment
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-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?
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
The training cycle "What if we share care" managed to strengthen the technical capacities of 336 participants for the implementation of ILO Conventions Nos. 156 and 183 in Colombia. Through a participatory design and with the leadership of the Trade Union Centres in co-construction, four virtual sessions and two face-to-face workshops were held to identify and close knowledge gaps: 51% of the attendees were initially unaware of the regulations on family leave, an aspect addressed with theoretical-practical methodology.The initiative stood out for its intersectional approach, making visible the realities of migrant women, caregivers and territorial diversity, with majority female participation (77%) and regional scope (Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, among others). Of the participants, 139 belonged to trade union organizations, 93 to government entities, 15 to the employer sector and 57 to social organizations, academia and caregivers.The communications campaign, developed in partnership with "Economía para la Pipol", reached 121,757 new people, generated 6,733 interactions and 264,336 reproductions. The return on investment was 273.7%, that is, for every dollar invested, a net profit of US$2.74 was obtained. The publications obtained 10.6 times more views than the usual average of the ILO Americas accounts, consistently exceeding the engagement indicators of the partner media.Similarly, the campaign begins its process on Father's Day in Colombia and is carried out in collaboration with UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA and the UNIC, with whom we published the first messages, this initiative was carried out within the Interagency Gender Group GIG.These results show the success of the process in strengthening social dialogue, promoting co-responsibility in care and generating strategic inputs for the effective implementation of international standards, aligning national efforts with the 2030 Agenda and decent work.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
The first innovative element of this process was the prior consultations with the three constituents, inviting them to be part of the co-construction. The three trade union centres participated in two face-to-face workshops and three follow-up meetings to adjust content, approaches and the basis of the communications campaign.Similarly, the alliance with the Artemisas Foundation, which has worked on various issues of gender, care, construction of public policies with a feminist approach and political advocacy with the Feminist Economy Table, significantly enriched the training process. Additionally, an alliance was generated with "Economía para la Pipol", an alternative media that educates on complex issues through clear, simple and innovative language. Carrying out this process with them allowed us to reach a larger audience, covering both our target audience and their usual audience.Finally, the articulation of the work with other areas of the ILO, such as the Migration project in Colombia, the Standards area, ACTRAV (Bureau for Workers' Activities) and ACTEMP (Bureau for Employers' Activities), allowed the initiatives to be better received and the resources invested to be optimized.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
Main challenges identifiedLanguage accessibility: Simplifying technical language to ensure that content is understandable and can reach a mass audience.Tripartite articulation: Achieve effective and simultaneous coordination with the three constituents of the ILO (government, employers and workers).Strategiesto overcome these challenges, the following actions were implemented:Adaptation of content and strategic alliances: A team specialized in training and communications was used to preserve the technical rigor of the contents, while adapting the language to make it accessible to the general public. In this sense, the alliance with the alternative media "Economía para la Pipol" was key to translating complex concepts into a clear and novel language, significantly expanding the reach of the message.Social dialogue and co-construction: Spaces for dialogue were held with the three constituents to present the training plan and the campaign. He highlighted the active participation of workers' organizations, who played a leading role in the co-construction of both the training cycle and the key messages of the communications campaign. This ensured that the strategies were relevant and appropriate from the grassroots level, strengthening the tripartite approach to the process.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
Good practices identified:Strategic alliances and accessible language: Establish alliances with powerful media.Parallel communication and training strategies: Implementing both strategies simultaneously allows the dissemination of the message to be massive, while offering the possibility of deepening the content for those who are more interested.Cross-cutting intersectional approach: Incorporating dimensions such as migration, rurality, ethnicity, and gender diversity in the content ensured territorial and cultural relevance, increasing the identification of participants and strengthening the inclusion of historically excluded groups.Validation with constituents: Consultations at multiple moments of the process (design, implementation and closure) made it possible to adjust content to real needs and strengthen the sense of tripartite ownership.Internal technical articulation of the ILO: Coordinate with specialized areas (ACTRAV, ACTEMP, Migration, Standards)Lessons learned: Establishing co-construction alliances with a client ensures that the call is more successful with that group. The greater participation in the training cycle, as well as the dissemination of the campaign, was promoted by various trade union organizations.Political situation as a catalyst: Aligning the initiative with regulatory windows (entry into force of C156, CONPES 4143) facilitated knowledge management and amplified political advocacy.Participatory methodology for real appropriation: Combining exhibition sessions with interactive dynamics (surveys, case analysis, audiovisual resources) promoted meaningful and action-oriented learning.Opportunities for improvement: Strengthen the participation of the employer sector (4.5% attendance) through differentiated call strategies.Expand territorial coverage to underrepresented regions and adapt formats for blended or regional virtual modalities.Deepen content on emerging challenges: work on digital platforms, the health sector and conditions of migrant workers, ensuring that training responds to the transformations of the world of work.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
Internal technical articulation of the ILO: ACTRAV (Bureau for Workers' Activities) and ACTEMP (Bureau for Employers' Activities), Migration and Standards.Taking advantage of the political situation: It is essential to capitalize on regulatory windows of opportunity. In the case of Colombia, the entry into force of Convention No. 156 (2025), the progress in the ratification of Convention No. 183 and the approval of the National Care System Policy generated a favorable environment that facilitated the processes of knowledge management, communication and training.Tripartite co-constructiona: Involving constituents in the design and construction of content is a practice that guarantees greater appropriation, relevance and acceptance of the message by key actors. Although this strategy had greater adherence on the part of workers' organizations, when the call was launched, a significant participation of government officials and some businessmen was achieved.Strategic alliances with alternative and pedagogical media: Establishing collaborations with actors such as "Economía para la Pipol", who master clear and innovative languages to address complex issues, made it possible to amplify the message beyond traditional circles and connect with diverse audiences, including young people and non-specialized audiences.Cross-cutting intersectional approach in content design: Explicitly incorporating dimensions such as migration, rurality, ethnicity, and gender diversity in the training modules ensured territorial and cultural relevance, increasing participants' identification with the content and strengthening the inclusion of historically excluded groups.Theoretical-practical methodology with interactive tools: The combination of exhibition sessions with participatory dynamics (quick surveys, word clouds, case analysis and audiovisual resources) facilitated the appropriation of technical concepts and promoted the exchange of experiences, generating meaningful and action-oriented learning.
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
It is essential to establish a mechanism for continuous monitoring of the actions undertaken in Colombia for the effective implementation of Convention No. 156 in the coming years. This involves diagnosing compliance gaps and formulating an articulated national action plan. At the same time, it is crucial to give continuity and strengthen the communication and dissemination strategies already initiated, ensuring that the message remains on the public agenda.Institutionalization of collective bargaining: Take advantage of the strong union participation (41% of attendees) to include care and co-responsibility clauses in the lists of demands and collective agreements, transforming the political agreement into enforceable contractual rights.School of multiplier trainers: Train the 336 participants as replicators in their organizations (unions, public entities), creating a cascade effect that reduces future costs and expands territorial coverage without always depending on the direct intervention of the ILO.To be able to articulate more concrete actions with the private sector and employers' organizations.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
Participants from other countries showed great interest in the process, which shows the potential to generate a training strategy focused on regional actions in Latin America. Coordination could be carried out between ILO offices in the region to replicate the training cycle and design communication pieces adaptable to each national context.To strengthen transferability, it is suggested:Modular and open source design: Structure the training contents in flexible and accessible formats that allow their linguistic and regulatory adaptation to different countries, reducing replication costs.South-South Exchange: Generate learning spaces between countries with advances in care policies (such as Uruguay, Mexico or Colombia) and those in the initial stages, strengthening the appropriation of good practices and lessons learned.Adaptation to local regulatory frameworks: Adjust the modules to the ratification statuses of Conventions 156 and 183 in each country, ensuring legal relevance and practical usefulness for constituents.Replication of alliances with pedagogical media: Identify alternative media or related educational platforms in each territory to expand the reach of the campaign, maintaining clear languages and intersectional approaches.
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
Father's Day Campaign: Caring FathersLinkedInInstagram UNWomen and UN Colombia (post shared by both accounts)UNVUNVMCILO Andean Countries:https://x.com/i/status/1934269160374128851https://x.com/i/status/1934268553135264063https://x.com/i/status/1934269157329223734Does washing dishes every day move the economy?InstagramLinkedInXIs care a right or an obligation?InstagramLinkedInXPodcast: EP. 31 Is taking care of other people extra work?InstagramTiktokLinkedInYouTubeSpotifyWas the job designed only for men?InstagramLinkedInXTraining Cycle: What if we share the Care?: Materials
Is taking care of other people extra work?Is care an unpaid job or a right? In this episode of Economics for Pipol, we analyse the gender gap in the labour market with Katherine Álvarez, National Coordinator of International Standards at the ILO. During the conversation led by Maria Camila Gonzáles, the following topics are discussed: How the lack of co-responsibility discriminates against women in the workplace.Why care is the invisible pillar of the economy.The reality of the female "double shift".Myths and realities about work-life balance.Necessary policies so that care is not a professional disadvantage.