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More information In 1996 Trinidad & Tobago became the first country in the world to pass a law to measure and value unwaged work. This was the result of many years' campaigning by Clotil Walcott of the Wages for Housework Campaign. Ms Walcott, who also founded the National Union for Domestic Employees (NUDE), is widely recognised in the Caribbean as a formidable fighter for the rights of low-waged and unwaged women workers, and now a street in Port of Spain has been named after her. The Bill was presented in the Senate by Independent Senator Diana Mahabir-Wyatt. What the press said Trinidad Guardian 19 September 1996 "Speaking in Parliament yesterday Culture and Women's Affairs Minister said that 'We need to put value to the work that all people do . . . The consequences that face us today for not valuing and counting caring work in the home are street children and juvenile crime.' Express 20 September 1996 "Housewives as well as women and men who take care of the elderly, the young and the handicapped, work in the family businesses without pay, even do voluntary community work, will have their labours registered and have an official idea of what their work is worth. This became possible Wednesday when the House passed a Bill that requires the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and other agencies to produce and maintain statistics relative to unremunerated work in the country as well as quantify the monetary value of such work. . . Community Development Minister Phillips said that the bill would lessen domestic violence and ensure gender equity." |