Unpaid work

Unpaid labor or unpaid work is defined as labor or work that does not receive any direct remuneration. This is a form of non-market work which can fall into one of two categories: (1) unpaid work that is placed within the production boundary of the System of National Accounts (SNA), such as gross domestic product (GDP); and (2) unpaid work that falls outside of the production boundary (non-SNA work), such as unpaid care work and other household activities undertaken for one’s own consumption. Unpaid labor takes many forms and is not limited to activities within a household. Major components include unpaid care and household work, volunteering as a form of charity work, and unpaid internships. In many countries, unpaid care work is disproportionately performed by women due to gender norms and inequalities. Governments and policy institutions have adopted a number of initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of unpaid work, including supporting childcare services.