Pressure to work and care under COVID-19: Social norms in the private sector in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam
Summary
This research brief explores how COVID-19 has exacerbated pressures related to work and domestic responsibilities in the private sectors of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It highlights how the pandemic has shifted the locus of employment and intensified the dual burden of earning an income and managing household duties, particularly affecting women. The study utilises data from a survey of 1,800 private sector workers, conducted in May 2020, to analyse changes in employment conditions, income pressure, and domestic workload amidst the pandemic. Findings reveal significant gender differences, with women more likely to work from home and experience increased domestic pressures. The report calls for enhanced workplace policies that recognize and mitigate the gender-specific impacts of crises like COVID-19.
Highlights
- A significant percentage of employees in all three countries reported an increase in pressure to earn income and manage domestic responsibilities due to the pandemic.
- Women across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam face heightened challenges, balancing increased work-from-home responsibilities with domestic duties.
- The primary source of income pressure for most employees is self-imposed, indicating a strong personal commitment to financial stability during the crisis.
- Filipino women, in particular, experience a pronounced increase in domestic pressure, highlighting cultural and social expectations that compound their workload.
- The research underscores the need for corporate and governmental strategies that address the intersection of workplace demands and domestic responsibilities, particularly for women, during global crises.
