This article explores the potential of regulatory and policy reform for gender-equitable decent work in social and community services, a rapidly growing sector of female employment in many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Along with other feminised sectors, employment in this sector is marked by low rates of unionisation, poor pay and fragmented, insecure working hours. Internationally, gig economy work is now appearing in the sector. A distinguishing feature of the sector is employers’ reliance on government funding through contracted services or via direct payments to individuals. The distance of government from accountability for workers in publicly funded services directly contributes to gendered undervaluation and poor working conditions. However, the presence of the state also provides options for regulatory reform. This article considers the different roles played by government, as employment regulator, as funding and bargaining actor and as market manager and care regulator. Adopting a broad conception of regulation, it canvasses options for bringing the state back in to address gender inequality and precarious work. In the Australian context, it examines potential for rebuilding state accountability for gender-equitable decent work in individualised social care in which the gender inequalities and poor working conditions present in social and community services are amplified.

本文探讨了在社会和社区服务中实现两性平等的体面劳动的监管和政策改革的潜力，在许多经济合作与发展组织国家中，这是一个迅速增长的女性就业部门。与其他女性化部门一样，该部门的就业以工会率低，薪资低以及工作时间零散，不安全为特征。在国际上，零工经济工作现在出现在该行业中。该部门的一个显着特征是雇主通过合同服务或直接向个人付款来依靠政府资金。政府与公共服务部门的工人问责制之间的距离太远，直接导致了性别低估和恶劣的工作条件。然而，国家的存在也为监管改革提供了选择。本文考虑了政府扮演的不同角色，作为就业监管者，融资和议价参与者以及市场经理和护理监管者。它采用了广泛的监管概念，为使国家重返社会以解决性别不平等和不稳定的工作提供了选择。在澳大利亚的背景下，它研究了在个性化社会护理中重建国家对性别平等的体面劳动的责任制的潜力，其中社会和社区服务中存在的性别不平等和恶劣的工作条件得到了扩大。它探讨了使该州重返社会以解决性别不平等和不稳定工作的各种选择。在澳大利亚的背景下，它研究了在个性化社会护理中重建国家对性别平等的体面劳动的责任制的潜力，其中社会和社区服务中存在的性别不平等和恶劣的工作条件得到了扩大。它探讨了使该州重返社会以解决性别不平等和不稳定工作的各种选择。在澳大利亚的背景下，它研究了在个性化社会护理中重建国家对性别平等的体面劳动的责任制的潜力，其中社会和社区服务中存在的性别不平等和恶劣的工作条件得到了扩大。