Female employment and care economy in Turkey

Abstract

This paper examines gender employmentimpact of expanding the early childhood care and preschool education (ECCPE)sector in Turkey. Underinvestment in social care thus takes its toll on thecountry’s long-term economic potential through weakened labour forceattachment, and diminished childhood development. This neglect of care economyprojects reflects a gender bias in economic thinking as women are morerepresented in caring work. Investing in the care industries would generateincreases in employment and add to growth, with a higher proportion going to women,as they would now be free to take up many of such jobs. It would also narrowthe gender employment and earnings gaps. In addition, the government at various levels couldstart by eliminating gender bias in the laws; take necessary measures toestablish, operate, and allocate funds for childcare facilities; come up withinitiatives like reinstating and reviewing the laws mandating private sectoremployers to set up nurseries for both male and female staff and providechildcare services in the workplace.