Policy Recommendations
It’s time for a new way of thinking. The Purple Economy offers three key steps to fix this problem.
Care work is real work. Pay fairly.
Right now, many care workers are barely scraping by. Some earn wages so low they can’t even cover basic needs. That’s unacceptable. Care work is essential, so it should be paid for like it. Governments need to step up. Hazard pay, fair wages, and better protections should be the norm, not the exception. It’s time to start paying care workers what they deserve.
Caregiving is exhausting. Let’s make it easier.
Taking care of others takes time, a lot of time. But smart investments can lighten the load. Imagine better access to clean water, electricity, and reliable transportation—simple things that free up hours every single day. When caregivers have more time, they can work, study, or just rest, and that benefits everyone.
Care work isn’t just a “woman’s job.”
Care should be a shared responsibility—between men and women, families, businesses, and governments. Right now, too much of it falls on women. That needs to change. Policies like paid paternity leave can help fathers step up. Affordable childcare and elder care services can take the pressure off families. Governments and companies need to invest in solutions that don’t leave women carrying the entire burden.
