Cairo, October 29, 2025
On the occasion of the International Day of Care and Support, observed globally on October 29, the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR) shines a spotlight on a critical issue: the unpaid care economy in Egypt — a hidden burden that weighs heavily on women and hinders the progress of society as a whole. ECWR calls on policymakers to take concrete action to recognize, reduce, and fairly redistribute this vital yet invisible labor.
Unpaid care work — from caring for children, the elderly, and the sick, to household chores — forms the engine of an unseen economy largely powered by women. This hidden engine sustains families and communities, yet its heavy cost is borne solely by women, depriving them of educational and economic opportunities and perpetuating the gender gap.
Official data reveals alarming insights into this silent crisis:
- A massive time gap:
Women shoulder the overwhelming majority of care work, regardless of employment status. According to UN Women, married women in Egypt spend seven times more time than married men on unpaid domestic labor, while unmarried women spend 6.5 times more than their male counterparts.
- A devastating economic impact:
This unequal distribution of care is a key factor behind the low participation of women in the labor market. According to Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), only 15.8% of employed individuals are women, compared to 84.2% men. Unemployment among women stands at 17.8%, versus just 4.7% among men.
- A double burden:
Women who break into the labor market face a “double burden” — balancing formal employment with unpaid domestic responsibilities. This unmeasured strain affects their health and limits their professional growth.
In response, Ms. Nehad Abul Komsan, ECWR’s chairwoman, calls on the government, civil society, and the private sector to unite in building a fair and comprehensive National Care System through:
- Recognition and measurement: Officially acknowledging the economic value of unpaid care work as a core contribution to the national economy and integrating it into official statistics.
- Investment in infrastructure: Expanding and improving affordable, high-quality care services — such as nurseries, kindergartens, and eldercare centers — to ease the pressure on Egyptian families.
- Shared responsibility: Promoting shared caregiving within families through awareness campaigns and supportive policies, such as paternity leave.
- Fair representation: Ensuring women’s equitable participation in decision-making bodies related to care policies and national budgeting.
Care is work — and care is an investment in human capital. Egypt cannot achieve genuine economic development or full gender equality while this vital sector remains unrecognized, undervalued, and placed entirely on one shoulder. It is time to turn commitment into action — to build a care system that delivers justice and unleashes the potential of half the nation to be a full partner in building the future.
