As Paraguay celebrates Mother's Day in May—a month that also marks the country's independence—the occasion has prompted reflection on the often-invisible labor of mothers. According to a report by Ultima Hora, 39% of Paraguayan women are heads of household, single-handedly supporting their families. Among them, 37% are married, 31% in a union, and 18% single, yet regardless of marital status, they remain primarily responsible for childcare and domestic duties.
Data from Paraguay's National Institute of Statistics reveals stark gender gaps. The combined underemployment and unemployment rate for women aged 15 and over stands at 11.56%, compared to 6.93% for men. Even literacy rates show a slight disparity: 96.05% for women versus 96.83% for men. Monthly income for women with 16–18 years of education averages 4,403 thousand guaraníes, while men earn 5,841 thousand. The most telling figure, however, is the time devoted to unpaid domestic and care work: women spend 61.27% of their time on such tasks, men only 25.26%.
The World Economic Forum has noted that the care economy is central to growth, well-being, and development. Globally, unpaid care work, if compensated, would represent 9% of GDP—about $11 trillion. In Latin America, that share ranges from 15.7% to 24.2% of regional GDP, making it one of the largest economic contributors.
Despite these challenges, Ultima Hora highlights a historic legal milestone in Paraguay. Last year, for the first time, a Childhood and Adolescence Court considered the “cost of upbringing” and the “loss of opportunity” for a mother when determining child support. Judge Guillermo Trovato, who authored the opinion, explained that the father had almost no contact with the child, leaving the mother with full care responsibilities. “It’s not just money for food and medicine,” Trovato said. “The invisible cost is how much it costs to raise a child—all day, every day: giving medicine, bathing, feeding, reading bedtime stories, helping with homework. That requires patience and dedication.” The ruling increased the father's support payment, recognizing that care work has real economic value.
As Paraguayans honor mothers with poetry and flowers, the article calls for a deeper appreciation of the magnitude and value of maternal care—work that sustains families and the economy alike.