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Ammar: Considering Women’s Care Work Increases Morocco’s GDP by 16%
Abdelkader Ammar, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, confirmed that integrating “unpaid work” into economic accounting could contribute to an increase in Morocco’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by approximately 19%, of which 16% is attributed to care work performed by women.
During a communication meeting of the council on the topic of the care economy in Morocco, Ammar explained that developing this economy is not only a commitment to the social state but could also serve as a foundation for comprehensive economic development and enhance families’ resilience, especially those headed by women.
The “care economy” is defined as the total of activities aimed at meeting the physical, psychological, and emotional needs of individuals, whether children, sick adults, the elderly, or people with disabilities. It includes paid care, such as domestic helpers, nurses, and childcare workers, as well as unpaid care within families and communities, such as cooking, cleaning, feeding infants, and accompanying the sick.
Ammar pointed out that the demand for these services is increasing due to demographic and social changes in Morocco, including rising life expectancy, an accelerating aging population, and the prevalence of chronic diseases, along with a shift towards nuclear and single-person households.
He emphasized that current infrastructures and services, whether in the public or private sectors, are insufficient to meet these needs, and there are significant disparities between regions. Moreover, current programs often remain fragmented and subject to sectoral or categorical approaches, necessitating the establishment of a comprehensive vision for the care system.
Surveys conducted by the council, involving 1,591 participants, revealed that 51% regularly resort to assistance and care services, while 31% do so occasionally, indicating that over 80% of Moroccans have benefited from these services directly or indirectly.
Regarding service providers, the surveys indicated that 44% are paid professionals, 30% are family members or relatives, and 21% are volunteers and associations, while public services account for only 4.5%.
The surveys also highlighted a focus on medical and paramedical assistance (61%), psychological and emotional support (38%), and assistance in household tasks (22%).
Ammar highlighted the main obstacles to accessing these services, including a lack of qualified workers (47%), high service costs (29%), and insufficient care facilities (21%).
Concerning the status of home caregivers, 60% of participants feel they lack adequate recognition, with 56% proposing legal recognition of these professions, 47% suggesting the establishment of a regulatory framework, and 48% calling for improved working conditions.
