On April 3, 2007, Quebec-based women’s group Afeas marks Invisible Work Day. This day of public awareness-raising was instituted in 2001 to make visible women’s unpaid invisible work in the family, raising children, and caring for intimates who are ill, disabled or frail.

As it has every year for seven years now, Afeas is mobilizing its network and allies in Quebec, Canada and internationally. It is asking governments to develop measures to recognize women’s unpaid work as mothers and caregivers.

In 2007, Afeas is mobilizing to obtain at least 50,000 signatures in support of its demands on behalf of parents and caregivers.

Some 13,000 Afeas members and various allied groups are currently circulating support cards and an online petition in Quebec.

Afeas is calling for the support of groups who are concerned by this issue in Canada and Europe.

Will You Join Afeas in this Effort?

DEMANDS

Afeas is demanding the following from Quebec government:

• FOR PARENTS: to pay parents excluded from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) a fixed weekly benefit for the duration of maternity, paternity and parental leave. In 2006, some 20,000 mothers were excluded from the QPIP because they hadn’t earned at least $2000 in the year preceding their child’s birth or adoption. The QPIP is a new benefits plan for parents who have given birth to or adopted a child; it came into force in Quebec on January 1, 2006;
• FOR CAREGIVERS: to create a “Quebec compassionate assistance” plan for caregivers who temporarily leave the paid work force to look after an intimate.

HOW TO SUPPORT AFEAS’ DEMANDS

• Circulate and get people to sign the online petition on Afeas’ website (French and English versions): http://www.afeas.qc.ca/petitions/pour-les-parents-et-aidantes/.
• Get your contacts to sign support cards; gather and return them to AFEAS (PDF version attached—both sides of card—French only). Cards and posters will be mailed to you when you have confirmed the quantity you need.

DEADLINE

• Mid-June, 2007 is the deadline for returning signed cards and to sign the online petition.
• The 50,000 signatures will be presented when AFEAS meets the new minister responsible for this file.

YOUR PARTICIPATION

• Will your group join in Afeas’ action? What is your timetable for participating?
• Do you want us to send cards to sign? How many? Send the name of the contact person and their mailing address to Afeas.
• Will you circulate and gather signatures for the online petition? If so, how will you mobilize your members and allies?

To confirm your participation, please email Helene Cornellier at cornellier@afeas.qc.ca by Thursday, March 29th.

For more information:

Invisible work
http://www.afeas.qc.ca/que-faisons-nous/dossiers-prioritaires/
http://www.afeas.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/CampagneTI_20011.pdf

Invisible Work Day annual campaign
http://www.afeas.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/CampagnesTI_Bilan2001-...

To download a copy of the poster click here:
Afeas - Affiche Mobilisation 2007.pdf (Available in French only)