Toiling without pay: Is there value in domestic, subsistence and unpaid work?

Venue: Nairobi Safari Club (Lillian Towers) University Way, Nairobi

ENTRY FREE

This debate will take place on Twitter starting Thursday 20th March 2014: @HbsNairobi #genderforum #unpaidcarework

About the topic

In Kenya, the mainstream economy emphasizes on wealth and capital creation from skilled and paid non-skilled labour for production. This labour market in turn relies on supportive domestic and unpaid care work that takes place within the domestic sphere. The question begs, does this chain create symbiosis in the context of labour economics? What is the cost benefit of care-oriented labour in the national economy and how is it quantified? What is the convergence between economics, social and human rights issues in this respect? Indeed the Matrimonial Property Act 2013 and Land Law in Kenya recognize non-monetary contribution as a basis to determine part ownership of property. But how is contribution quantified in determining such ownership?

The Gender forum will dialogue with identified stakeholders and the public in seeking to understand whether there is value in domestic, subsistence and unpaid care-oriented work.

Key discussion points:

• Defining care labour- what is it and who does it
• How is care labour quantified within the gross economic and growth measurements? - available data, methods.
• Gender roles and implications of unpaid care work within the human rights agenda.

Key Note Presentation:

Prof. Ambreena Manji – Director at the British Institute for Eastern Africa.

Format of Discussion:

A Key Note Presentation shall be delivered by Prof. Ambreena Manji, followed by a panel discussion. Panel members will respond to the key note presentation and give their own perspectives on the subject. The forum will thereafter hold a public dialogue on the issue, participants engaging with each other and the panel.